Lacklustre first half for Africa indices

Of the 11 main indices in Africa, ex South Africa, only four showed gains for the month of June and only three indices – in Botswana, Ghana and Tunisia – recorded gains for the first half of the year.

Kenya’s NSE 20 reversed a three-month losing streak with a 2.49% increase but was still -4.04% in negative territory for 2015.

Botswana’s Gaborone Index climbed 1.77% to end the first half 12.51% in profit, the best performance year to date of the basket of bourses on our radar.

The Mauritian SEMDEX gained 1.48% in June, its first positive return since September 2014, and at month’s end was -4.48% in the red for the year.

Tunisia’s TUNINDEX added 1.28% for the month, lifting its year-to-date gain to 12.36%.

The Lusaka All Share was down -5.5% for the month in US dollar terms and ended the first half of the year with a -19.9% deficit.

Egypt’s EGX 30 tumbled -4.68% in June and was -6.22% in the red year to date.

Zimbabwe’s ZSE Industrial Index dropped approximately -3.05% in June on the back of a -2.1% deficit in May, extending its year-to-date losses to more than 8%.

Nigeria’s All Share Index was down -2.49% for the month and -3.46% in negative territory year to date. The country is still feeling the effects of the fall in oil prices, with economic growth expected to slow to about 4.5% in 2015 from an average of more than 7% in the past decade.

Namibia’s Overall Index lost -1.99% in June following a -6.74% rout in May, dragging its year-to-date performance -0.03% into negative territory.

Morocco’s CFG 25 slipped into the red for the first time this year, giving back -1.42% in June to take it -0.15% lower for the year.

Ghana’s GSE Composite Index shed -0.44% to end the first half 4.03% in positive territory. Copyright. HedgeNews Africa – July 2015.