Weekly Market Wrap: Airtel, QCIL lead local gainers

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Weekly total turnover at the Uganda Securities Exchange (USE) eased slightly to sh652 million ($173,021) from sh693.48m ($183,615) the previous week, though volumes picked up to 6.53 million shares from 4.40 million.

Data from Crested Capital show that the benchmark All Share Index slipping 0.55% to 1,961.44 even as locally listed shares managed modest gains overall. The local companies index rose 0.60% to 190.00.

MTN Uganda traded shares worth sh248.13m ($65,846) across 583,761 shares. Bank of Baroda (BOBU) exchanged sh135.52m ($35,960) with 2.51 million shares changing hands. Umeme contributed sh103.93m ($27,580), and Stanbic Holdings added sh101.49m ($26,935) from 1.36 million shares.

Airtel Uganda accounted for sh49.17m ($13,049) from 327,875 shares, while Quality Chemicals Industries Limited (QCIL) rounded out the active counters with sh13.76m ($3,651) from 97,700 shares.

Share price performance

Airtel was the week's best performer, climbing 3.45% to sh150.00. QCIL added 1.43% to close at sh142, and MTN edged up 0.20% to sh425.86. On the downside, Stanbic shed 2.50% to sh74.1.

On cross-listed counters, Equity Group was the biggest drag, falling 5.12% to sh2,078.36, while Nation Media Group lost 3.79% to sh386.50 and Centum Investments dipped 1.92% to sh404. Kenya Airways gave up 0.80% to sh173.27, and KCB Group edged down 0.17% to Ugx1,939.81.

East African Breweries gained 1.33% to sh7,234.16, and Jubilee Holdings rose 0.55% to sh10,574.13.