In the last quarter of 2018, the capital markets registered improved activity in the bond market compared to the last quarter of 2017. This is based on CMA’s Quarterly Statistical Bulletin.
In the report, fourth quarter bond market performance increased by 32.6%. The bond market turnover stood at Ksh118.17 billion in Q4 2018 compared to Ksh89.12 billion registered in Q4 2017.
The equity market recorded a 1.62% drop in performance in the period under review. In Q4 2018, the equity turnover was Ksh35.44 billion while in the same period in 2017 it amounted to Ksh36.02 billion. Other performance indicators such as the NSE 20 Share index and the NSE All Share Index also registered decline of 1.45% and 6.17% respectively.
In the financial quarter under review, the capital markets regulator granted key approvals and licenses to market participants. Some of the notable issuances are; an Investment banking license to Salaam Investment Bank; an approval to Bank of Kigali to cross-list on the NSE; a money manager license to Standard Investment Bank; and a takeover approval for KenolKobil Plc.
In similar fashion, Q4 2018 saw CMA suspend trading of Deacons Plc. and Athi River Mining Plc. Stocks at the Nairobi Securities Exchange.
The number of local individual investors in the equity market hit 1.175 million compared to 7,983 foreign individual investors. Domestic corporate investors amounted to 40,627 while foreign corporate investors were 672.
