Browsing: Capital Markets Authority (CMA)

Kenya’s capital markets is showing a sign of recovery this year with the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) recording a gain in January, albeit minimal, as large stocks pay investors.

Kenya’s capital markets performed dismally in the second quarter of the year, latest data shows, despite political stability and growing interest from foreign-based investors.

The Capital Markets Authority (CMA) report for the quarter ended June 2019 shows secondary equities market registered slow activity during the review period.

Equity turnover for Q2.2019 stood at Ksh32.89 billion (US$316.3million), compared to Ksh45.25 billion(US$435.1million ) registered in the previous quarter; a 27.31 per cent decrease.

Similarly, market capitalization recorded a 3.46 per cent decrease to Ksh2.278 trillion (US$21.9billion) from Ksh2.360 trillion(US$22.7billion)in Q1. 2019.

READ ALSO:NSE dips as 2018 ends on a bear market territory

Traded volumes followed the same trend, falling by 3.46 per cent to 1.39 billion during the period under review.

Other composite indicators such as the NSE All Share and NSE 20 Shares indices likewise recorded decreases of 5.11 per cent and 7.51 per cent closing the quarter at 149.61 …

KCB Group Plc profit after tax surged six per cent to Ksh19.2 billion ($186.1million) for the nine months ending September 2019, on the back of significant growth in the loan book and non-funded income.

KCB Group shareholders have approved the proposal to acquire 100 per cent of the issued ordinary shares of National Bank of Kenya Limited (NBK) via share swap.

This approval follows the offer made by KCB Group on April 18, 2019 to acquire the shares of struggling NBK by way of a share swap of 10 ordinary shares of NBK for every one ordinary share of KCB. The transaction is subject to regulatory and NBK shareholders approvals.

The acquisition is part of KCB’s ongoing strategy to explore opportunities for new growth while investing in and maximizing the returns from its existing businesses, the management has said.

“For us, the acquisition is an opportunity to strengthen the deposit base and lending capacity, increase cost efficiencies due to economies of scale and boost transactional revenue through leveraging of technology. NBK maintains a strong deposit franchise and a wide branch network,” said KCB

Group …

Kenya’s capital markets is showing a sign of recovery this year with the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) recording a gain in January, albeit minimal, as large stocks pay investors.

After more than three years of waiting, the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) has received regulatory approvals to proceed with the launch of the derivatives market.

This follows the successful conclusion of the Derivatives Market Pilot Test and subsequent submissions to the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) and the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK).

READ:Investors to commence derivatives trading at Nairobi bourse

NSE now sees the launch of the Derivatives Market as a significant milestone in the growth and deepening of the country’s’ capital markets and the wider Kenyan economy.

“Derivatives Markets provide new opportunities to investors, enabling them to better diversify their portfolios and allow for the efficient deployment of capital. Furthermore, through the Derivatives Market, investors will be able to form expectations about underlying assets in order to manage the price risks,” NSE Chief executive Geoffrey Odundo has noted.

This initiative makes the NSE the second African Exchange to …

The Kenyan government has re-opened mobile phone based bond-MAkiba, as it seeks to raise funds to support infrastructure development in the country. Dubbed M-Akiba, the bond allows Kenyans to invest as little as US$29.63, which is lower in comparison to the minimum US$493.88 required to invest in other Treasury bills and bonds.The National Treasury targets to raise Ksh250 million (US$2.47million).

The Kenyan government has once again gone to the market with its unique mobile phone based bond M-Akiba, as it seeks to raise funds to support infrastructure development in the country.

In a second issue this year, the National Treasury has re-opened the retail infrastructure bond as targeting to raise Ksh250 million (US$2.47million).

The bond was opened to the public on Monday, May 27, and will run up to Friday June 7, 2019. The value date shall be on Monday, June 10, 2019 and will start trading at the NSE on Tuesday, June 11, 2019, the government has said.

“Following the successful uptake of M-Akiba Retail Infrastructure Bond in March which attracted 79 per cent subscription rate, The National Treasury, the Central Depository and Settlement Corporation and the Nairobi Securities Exchange have jointly reopened the M-Akiba Retail Infrastructure Bond Issue No MAB/2/2017/03 to offer Kenyans another opportunity to invest in …

CMA is set to recover Ksh208 million from illegal trading in fixed income securities

The Capital Markets Authority (CMA) has taken enforcement action against individuals in Kenya who it says has been culpable for unethical undertakings in fixed income securities in the last fear years. The move is seen as CMA’s effort to instill proffesionalism in the securities trading in the country mainly through a scheme known as ‘Front Running’.

CMA has taken enforcement action against Mr. Rodrick Muhoro, a bond trader, following conclusion of investigations with respect to allegation of irregular trading of Government Securities in 2016 and 2017.

Consequently,  CMA has imposed a financial penalty of Kshs 208 Million being twice the amount of benefit Mr Muhoro received from irregular trading and banned him from conducting bonds trading for a period of 10 years.

“According to the investigations, Mr. Muhoro conspired with brokers to defraud investors in bond transactions undertaken between January 2016 and June 2017 through front running,”  a press stament …

Kenya has been operating a managed shilling than a free float currency, running a risk of making its exports more expensive in the short run as compared to competitors, eventually causing a reduction in export earnings and the economy’s growth, a report by Amana Capital has established. Reduced growth in revenue, employment and export earnings coupled with increased debt servicing commitments are the key threats facing Kenya’s economy

The Kenya shilling is arguably the strongest currency among the East Africa Community (EAC) member states, giving the region’s economic power house a competitive edge over her peers in international trade. 

READ:Here are Kenya’s biggest trading partners

However, the country has been operating a managed shilling than a free float currency, running a risk of making its exports more expensive in the short run as compared to competitors, eventually causing a reduction in export earnings and the economy’s growth, a report by Amana Capital has established.

Amana’s “Kenya’s Economic Puzzle – Putting the pieces together” report highlighted that 10 years ago, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) stood at 97 but has since shot up to 192 to date, meaning what the value Ksh100 (USD0.99) could buy in January 2009 can only buy 50 per cent of that now.

This translates into a 50 per cent devaluation of the purchasing …

Kenya’s capital markets is showing a sign of recovery this year with the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) recording a gain in January, albeit minimal, as large stocks pay investors.

It was suspended from trading at the NSE in May 2017

Troubled logistics firm-Atlas Development and Support Services (ADSS) has been delisted from the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) .

The delisting took effect on April 25, bringing to an end a five-year stint at the Nairobi bourse.

Registered in Guernsey, UK, in 2002, Atlas was admitted to trade at the NSE in December 2014, where it was cross-listed in the London Stock Exchange (LSE)’s Alternative Investment Market (AIM) segment.

In December 2015, the firm decided to close its operations in Kenya, placing its Kenyan subsidiaries into liquidation by way of a Creditors Voluntary Liquidation after financial headwinds.

The firm had hoped the closure of the Kenyan subsidiaries, Ardan Logistics Kenya Ltd, Ardan (Medical Services) Ltd and Ardan (Civil Engineering) Ltd, would improve the group’s overall cost base.

Two years later (May 2017), it was suspended from trading at the NSE …

Unit trust fund investments in Kenya recorded a 4.3 per cent growth in 2018, latest industry data shows, as investors moved to deepen the capital markets and provide alternative funding for businesses. During the year, Total Assets Under Management (“AUM”) held by Unit Trust Fund Managers grew to Ksh58.0 billion (US$574.8 million) up from Ksh55.6 billion (US$551 million) recorded in 2017.

Money Market Funds remain the largest Unit Trust Fund

Unit trust fund investments in Kenya recorded a 4.3 per cent growth in 2018, latest industry data shows, as investors moved to deepen the capital markets and provide alternative funding for businesses.

During the year, Total Assets Under Management (“AUM”) held by Unit Trust Fund Managers grew to Ksh58.0 billion (US$574.8 million) up from Ksh55.6 billion (US$551 million) recorded in 2017.

This came as the money market funds continued to be the most popular product with the AUM held by Money Market Funds, having grown by 8.9 per cent to Ksh48.5 billion (US$ 480.6 million) in 2018

This was up from Ksh44.5 billion (US$441 million) recorded in 2017, a report by investment firm-Cytonn shows, indicating that Money Market Funds are growing faster than the overall market.

CIC Asset Managers recorded the strongest growth in AUM of 36.3 per cent to Ksh20.3 …