At today’s NSE trading, the NSE 20-Share Index closed down 0.45 percent to 3,778.10 points  from 3,795.10 points yesterday.

HIGHEST VOLUMES

Kenya Commercial Bank was the most traded share with 2.96 million shares traded up from 1.7 million shares traded yesterday. Second was Safaricom with 2.05 million shares traded down from 9.18 million shares yesterday while third was Barclays Bank with 1.63 million shares moving across the counter. Fourth was KenolKobil with 1.38 million shares traded and the fifth most active counter was British–American Investments Company with 652,000 shares traded.

COUNTER WATCHLIST

• Jubilee Insurance Holdings – East Africa’s largest insurance group rallied for a second day gaining 1.76 percent to close at Ksh 173 up from Ksh 170 yesterday. The share has shown steady improvement this year, beginning the year at Ksh 137.65 and reaching high of Ksh 178 in May (Bloomberg). Jubilee recommended a 110 percent dividend of Ksh 5.50 per share in March after the insurer’s 2011 pre-tax profit grew 4.4 percent to Ksh 2.14 billion according to the company’s website.
•  Williamson Tea – The tea grower today lost for a third consecutive day, shedding 2.69 percent to close at Ksh 253 from Ksh 260 yesterday. The tea grower is now showing declined performance this month trading at a range below Ksh 270 after gaining steadily in May and June, reaching a high of Ksh 290 in the period (Bloomberg).
• B.O.C Kenya Ltd – The gases supplier closed today similar to yesterday at Ksh 125. The share was on the up-turn after last week, becoming yesterday’s top gainer adding 8.70 percent to close at Ksh 125 up from Ksh 115 last week.