Kenyan bourse benchmark index halts decline as stocks recover

NAIROBI, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) benchmark index gained marginally on Monday reversing a negative trend recorded in the last six sessions.

The NSE 20 Share Index rose 6.04 points on Monday to 3,716.36 points, up from 3,710.32 at the end of last week. Market capitalization similarly will take an upward turn.

Some of the stocks whose prices rose to lift the index on Monday were Athi River Cement (8.9 percent), Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) (1.9 percent), Sasini (2 percent), and Scangroup (1.8 percent).

However, the All Share Index (NASI) closed Monday at 180.67 points, down from 182.75, as it continued with a downward trend. Similarly, the NSE 25 Share Index fell to 4,709.90, down from 4,771.82.

Equity turnover declined to close Monday at 20 million shares worth 6 million U.S. dollars, down from 22 million shares from 7.5 million dollars on Friday last week.

The most-traded stocks during the session were Safaricom, moving 13 million shares; KCB, 2.12 million; Equity Bank, 1 million; Mumias Sugar, 788,400; and NSE, 513,400. Enditem