NKOLE MULAMBIA, Ndola
MORE foreign investors participated on the Lusaka Stock Exchange (LuSE) last month posting over K10.26 million in turnover out of the total K13,452,376 in 280-plus trades.
The statistics show that under foreign activity, a total of 1,057,312 shares were transacted in 27 trades yielding K10, 265,511 (about US$1,581,475) in turnover.
This is in comparison with 1,415,298 shares that changed hands in 255 trades resulting in a turnover of K3,186,865 (US$490,959).
According to LuSE monthly news flash for January, there was more foreign than domestic participation on the local bourse last month with the market recording a total of US$609,260 net inflows and US$440,488 outflows, representing 76.31 percent of foreign participation.
The analysis of foreign portfolio investment on the local bourse, however, shows a reduction in total turnover to US$1,049,748 last month from US$1,377,630 in December 2014.
the share index, which is an index figure based on the current market price of shares on a stock exchange, was up by 0.12 percentage point on year-to-date.
The LuSE all-share index closed at 6,172.03 points recording a 0.18 percentage point increase from last month’s close.
In January, the index rose due to share price gains in most listed firms after registering in excess of 2.4 million shares transacted in 286 trades resulting in K13.4 million of turnover.
Overall, trading activity occurred in 15 listed firms on LuSE with Lafarge transacting the bulk of trading activity earning almost K5.6 million.
Apart from Lafarge, other firms that participated in overall trading were African Explosives, Atel, Bata, British American Tobacco, Copperbelt Energy Corporation, Madison Finance, National Breweries, Puma Energy and Standard Chartered Bank.
Other firms were Zambeef Products, Zambia Sugar, Zambian Breweries, Zanaco and ZCCH-Investment Holdings.
Meanwhile, the LuSE market capitalisation (exclusive of Shoprite Holdings Plc) dropped to K31.46 million last month from the previous month’s K32.21 million, translating in a 2.33 percent reduction.