The performance of the Nairobi Securities Exchange was better today having edged up in general. The NSE 20 Share Index performance was up 9.52  points to close at 4023.55 while the All-Share Index performance was up 0.35 points to close at 88.85

HIGHEST VOLUMES

For the 3^rd consecutive day, Safaricom Ltd was the highest traded counter with 8.49 million shares traded. In second place was Equity bank for its 2^nd consecutive day with 3.56 million shares. Britam, an asset managing company that rebranded from Britak, was third with 2.05 Million shares changing hands while Mumias Sugar Company fourth with 1.93 million shares trading.

COUNTER WATCH

• Kenya Airways – The share edged up to KES 12 at end of trading today. The positive trend marks one of the few increases in the market’s stock valuation during the year and comes when the airline is in the process of introducing low budget flights. The share has experienced a near free-fall behavior in its valuation, even past the rights issue it had earlier on this year.
• Uchumi Supermarket – The counter gained by 2.19% today and was one of the top gainers for the day having closed at KES 18.65, a material change from yesterday’s drop by 8.29%. This may have been caused by the increased demand for the shares created by speculation that many would offload the stock at cheaper prices. Leading cause for decreased prices is the company’s announcement of a 22% dip in the supermarket’s profit before tax.
• Sasini group - The shares closed at KES 11.10 today, an increase by 0.91%. The company’s market’s valuation for the shares seems to have less volatility to its corporate announcement to change auditors from Ernst & Young to KPMG Kenya.