The Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE)’s Domestic Companies Index (DCI) increased by 0.38 percent during the week ending September 22, 2023. As indicated by the Stockbrokers weekly report, the index closed at 8 646.37 points from 8 613.89 points of the previous week.
Banker, FNBB gained thebe to become the biggest gainer after closing at 405 thebe while another banker (developmental), ADBF lost 34 thebe to earn the biggest loser of week badge having closed at 9549 thebe.
Market trading activity for the week led to a turnover amounting to P30,609,537 with 8,093,094 securities exchanging hands after the SEFALANA group (22%) became the biggest contributor to the turnover followed by FNBB (13%).
Meanwhile the latest performance report of the BSE shows that during the period 1 January to 31 August 2023, the DCI appreciated by 10.2 percent in comparison to an increase of 5.1 percent during the corresponding period in 2022. The FCI registered a notable increase of 57.6 percent on a year to-date basis in 2023 in comparison to a marginal increase of 0.7 percent during the corresponding period in 2022. As at end of August 2023, the FCI had peaked to record levels for the first time since 2008.
The BSE says trading activity during the review period in 2023 amounted to P753.9 million in comparison to P818.6 million in the corresponding period in 2022. Though lower than the amount recorded in 2022, current year-to-date turnover levels are above the 2020 (P483.3 million) and 2021 (P405.1 million) levels. Similarly, the Average Daily Turnover (ADT) recorded in 2023 though lower than that in 2022 is significantly higher than in 2020 and 2021.
The top three traded companies during the period under review were Letlole La Rona (P158.8 million), Chobe (P136.0 million) and Sechaba (P119.0 million). The total turnover from these 3 companies accounted for 54.9 percent of total equity turnover, with the leading counter Letlole La Rona accounting for 21.1 percent of total equity turnover. In comparison to the same period in 2022, the top 3 traded companies accounted for 69.0 percent of total equity turnover with the leading counter Letshego accounting for 52.7 percent (P431.1 million) of total equity turnover.
The BSE data also shows that the value of bonds traded during the review period was P1.7 billion, an increase of 47 percent from P1.2 billion traded during the same period in 2022. As at end of August 2023, there were seven Government Bonds, 64 Corporate Bonds and 20 Commercial Papers listed on the BSE with a total market capitalisation of approximately P26.1 billion.
