The NSE 20 Share Index, which measures the performance of 20 blue chip counters at the Kenyan stock market topped yesterday’s high to close at a new 52 week high of 3,953.84 points indicating that stock prices are generally edging further up this week.

Here are the shares we will be closely watching in today’s trading at the Nairobi Securities Exchange:

See a summary of yesterday’s share trading here.

• NIC Bank – Today is the last day of the NIC Rights Issue where shareholders will have until 3 pm this afternoon to take up their rights to the new NIC shares. Since the rights issue began on August 27^th, the share rose to peak at KES 35.25 which was KES 1.5 short of its highest price this year, before dropping to KES 33.25 by yesterday. We will watch to see if they drop further as the new NIC shares to be listed in late October are expected to dilute the current share price.

• Kapchorua Tea – The shares yesterday dropped to their lowest in nearly four months, closing at KES 117 from KES 130 previously. After Williamson Tea and Limuru Tea, Kapchorua Tea shares are the most highly priced agricultural stocks on the market. Since late May the shares had traded above the 120 shilling range and we will watch to see whether the shares will recover from yesterday’s drop. Kapchorua Tea is involved in the cultivation and manufacturing of tea.

• KenolKobil – We will maintain close watch on the shares which were the top gainers at the stock market yesterday despite news of another court hurdle that will delay the oil marketer’s sale to Swiss based Puma Energy. The closed yesterday at KES 15.00 from KES 14.30 on Wednesday.