Stock market hits marginal turbulence

Trading on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) for the second week of February (6-10) hit marginal turbulence and as a result, the benchmark GSE-Composite Index lost 1.1 percent on a week-on-week basis, to close at 1,805.1 points.

The lost represents a year-to-date return of 6.9 percent, despite the advance to decline ratio coming in at 9:4; Nordea Capital Investment Stock Market analysis made available to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, on Monday indicated.

According to the Nordea Capital Investment Stock Market Expert, the Standard Chartered Bank led the laggards for the week, as the stock declined by 11.2 percent to close at GHc13.32 per share.

Ecobank Transnational Incorporated also lost 7.1 percent to close at GHc0.13 per share while CAL Bank dropped 1.3 percent week-on-week to close at GHc0.75 per share.

The Nordea Capital Stock Market analysis also indicated that Fan Milk Limited fell by 0.9 per cent to close at GHc11.10 per share.

According to Nordea Capital Investment Stock Market Expert in spite of the marginal turbulence the UT Bank advanced by 33.3 percent to lead the gainers for the week, as it stock closed at GHc0.04 per share.

The SIC Insurance appreciated by 6.7 percent to GHc0.16 per share, followed by Total Ghana Limited which gained by 6.4 percent to close at GHc2.34 per share.

The Ghana Oil Company Limited (GOIL) the foremost indigenous Oil Marketing Company also climbed by 5.4 percent to GHc1.17 per share. GOIL also posted profits after tax of GHc62.4 million for 2016, despite a decline of 3.8 percent in revenue.

According to Nordea Capital Investment Stock Market Expert said Benso Oil Palm Plantation also rose by 4.2 percent to close at GHc2.21 per share, whilst the GCB Bank and Ecobank Ghana Limited edged by 3.3 percent and 1.4 percent each to close at GHc4.33 per share and GHc7.01 per share respectively.

Guinness Ghana Brewery Limited was up by 0.7 percent to close at GHc1.52 per share, whilst Unilever Ghana Limited inched up by 0.5 percent to close at GHc8.78 per share.

Unilever Ghana also reported an 11.5 per cent rise in profit after tax for 2016, even though revenue declined by 4.3 percent to GHc496.3 million.

According to Nordea Capital Investment Stock Market Expert, a block trade in CAL Bank kept turnover buoyant on the Accra Bourse as the week saw a total of the value of GHc228.4 million. CAL Bank accounted for 98.2 percent of the week’s turnover.

Nordea Capital is an investment bank, licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission and offers a comprehensive range of services in asset management, research and strategy, corporate finance and private equity to institutional, corporate and private clients.

Nordea Capital is dedicated to growing and preserving client assets and building trust, in partnership with financial professionals and institutions worldwide.

The GSE is the principal stock exchange of Ghana. The exchange was incorporated in July 1989 with trading commencing in 1990.

It currently lists 42 equities from 37 companies and two corporate bonds. All types of securities can be listed.

Criteria for listing include capital adequacy, profitability, spread of shares, years of existence and management efficiency.