Lusaka Stock Exchange Closes Week Slightly Lower Amid Mixed Trading Activity

Lusaka – The Lusaka Stock Exchange (LuSE) closed the week with marginal losses, as investors showed mixed sentiment across both Kwacha-denominated and dollar-denominated securities. The LuSE All Share Index (LASI) ended at 25,168.25 points, down 0.03% from the previous close, reflecting cautious trading ahead of month-end assessments.

Market Activity

A total of 498 trades were recorded on Kwacha-denominated equities, with 94,693 shares exchanged, generating a turnover of K773,496.41. Key price movements included:

• AECI rose K0.17 to K120.17
• CECZ declined K0.02 to K20.04
• PUMA fell K0.07 to K4.21
• ZNCO increased K0.01 to K6.01
• ZFCO gained K0.02 to K3.57

Other securities traded actively included ATEL, BATZ, CHIL, MAFS, SCBL, SHOP, ZABR, ZMBF, ZSUG, as well as CCAF and VGIP on the quoted tier.

In the dollar-denominated segment, REITs recorded just 2,238 units traded in 2 transactions, yielding a turnover of USD 201.42.

Market Capitalization

The market closed with a total capitalization of K326.4 billion, including Shoprite Holdings, and K136.3 billion excluding Shoprite Holdings, highlighting the significant impact of large multinational listings on the LuSE.

Top Movers

• AECI led the gainers with +K0.17, supported by modest trading volumes of 777 shares.
• PUMA recorded the largest decline of -K0.07, reflecting some profit-taking after recent gains.
• SCBL remained active with 50,004 shares traded, totaling K129,024.27, although the price held steady at K2.58.

Investor Sentiment

Market analysts noted that trading was relatively subdued, with investors exercising caution amid global commodity price volatility and domestic macroeconomic developments. The slight drop in the LASI suggests that while liquidity remains, market participants are selectively positioning themselves in blue-chip and high-liquidity stocks.

As Zambia approaches month-end, investors are expected to monitor macroeconomic indicators such as inflation, currency performance, and mining export revenues, which continue to influence market movements on LuSE.