Securities exchange counting losses

Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) investors have lost Ksh 157 billion of their wealth since the beginning of the year, underlining the depth of the bear run that has driven the main market index to a two-and-a-half year low.

According to the Market data, only 15 counters out of 63 have gained in value, a number that has dropped to 10 in the past three months.

The NSE 20 share index has dipped from 12.7 per cent to 4,463 points since the beginning of the year, while the total investor wealth is down to Ksh 2.1 trillion.

Banking and insurance counters have been the biggest losers in the first seven months of the year having two segments of the market – agriculture and telecommunications – weathered the bear run to increase investor wealth.