MSE buoyant, registers 62% positive return on index

Malawi Stock Exchange (MSE) registered a positive return on index of 62 percent in 2017, reflected in the rising Malawi All Share Index (Masi), according to an annual report.

This positive return on index is a rebound from an 8.53 percent negative return of 8.53 percent reported in the corresponding period in 2016.

The report says the positive performance was necessitated by price gains registered by all counters, which resulted in an upward movement of the Masi, the overall measure of market performance.

In the review period, the market transacted a total of 698.8 million shares, raising K13.5 billion in 1 189 trades while in the corresponding period in 2016, the market transacted a total of 410 million shares at a value of of K6.19 billion in 913 trades.

In an interview yesterday, MSE operations manager Esnat Chilije said the gains are a result of positive performance by most companies during the year.

“The improvements in macroeconomic indicators such as low inflation and interest rates and stable exchange rate point towards a more favourable business operating environment for the various listed companies,” she said.

Chilije said all of the counters recorded gains in share price. n