Investors lose Sh470 billion in six months as companies bleed

Investors have lost about Sh470 billion on the stock market since prices of shares started falling six months ago, bruised by a volatile Kenyan currency, inflation and high interest rate regime. The losses have seen companies listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) bleed billions of shillings in market value.

Data from the NSE shows that market capitalisation—the market value of all outstanding shares -- has shrunk by 20 per cent from Sh2.4 trillion in March to Sh1.9 trillion by the end of Friday. March was the peak of this year’s performance. Since then, it has been on a downward trend, leaving investors poorer.