NSE Weekly Wrap: NASI Gains 1.8% as Banking Stocks Rally
The Nairobi All-Share Index closed the week higher, driven by renewed investor interest in KCB, Equity, and Co-operative Bank. Here's what moved the market.
Useful next step
Research this idea
Build this topic cluster
Topical hubs
Use these internal paths to move from the current article into the broader category and tag coverage.
Key Takeaways
- KCB Group: +4.2% to KES 42.50 — strong Q4 earnings preview
- Equity Group: +3.1% to KES 51.75 — regional expansion narrative
- Co-operative Bank: +2.8% to KES 14.90 — dividend expectations
Market Overview
The Nairobi Securities Exchange posted a strong week, with the NASI closing at 112.45 — up 1.8% from last Friday's 110.47. Total market turnover hit KES 3.2 billion, a 22% increase week-on-week, signalling renewed institutional interest.
Banking stocks led the rally, with the sector index gaining 2.4%. The positive momentum was attributed to strong Q4 2025 earnings previews and expectations of a further CBK rate cut in April.
Top Movers
Gainers:
- KCB Group: +4.2% to KES 42.50 — strong Q4 earnings preview
- Equity Group: +3.1% to KES 51.75 — regional expansion narrative
- Co-operative Bank: +2.8% to KES 14.90 — dividend expectations
- Safaricom: +1.5% to KES 28.40 — stable ARPU growth
Losers:
- BAT Kenya: -2.1% to KES 345.00 — regulatory concerns
- Bamburi Cement: -1.6% to KES 32.50 — construction slowdown
- East African Breweries: -0.8% to KES 165.00 — profit-taking
What to Watch Next Week
- CBK's Monetary Policy Committee meets Tuesday — consensus expects a 25bps cut to 10.5%
- Safaricom half-year results due Wednesday
- Treasury bond auction on Thursday with strong demand expected
The banking sector is repricing ahead of rate cuts. We expect this trend to continue through Q2, though selectivity will matter — not all banks are positioned equally for a lower-rate environment.
Foreign Investor Activity
Net foreign selling continued but at a reduced pace — KES 180M net outflows vs. KES 420M the prior week. This suggests the sell-off is moderating, which is typically a bullish signal for the medium term.
The shilling held steady at 128.50 against the dollar, providing a stable backdrop for equities.
Build your research stack
Research the story, then chart the move
Use the right tool for the question: financials and valuation first, price action and alerts second.
Continue This Topic
Internal links to adjacent analysis help readers and crawlers move through the coverage cluster.
Uchumi Leads NSE Gains as Selective Buyers Push Indexes
Uchumi leads gains in a thin NSE session as selective names drive breadth higher; Eveready and ABSA lift, while QMRT wobbles, signaling liquidity-driven moves.
NSE Banking Lift, Ex-Dividend Window Keeps SCOM EQTY in Focus
Thin session on the NSE with muted foreign flow as ex-dividend dates approach; SCOM and EQTY are in focus for potential name-specific moves and liquidity-driven swings.
SCOM, KCB, EQTY in focus as NSE thin session plays out
Thin session with no confirmed foreign flows; watch SCOM, KCB and EQTY for early cues as rates and bond activity shape moves.