Kenya's bourse to allow single share trading from August to spur market
In a statement released in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, the NSE said that with the changes effective on Aug. 8, the buying and selling of shares in single units will be allowed as part of its broader initiative to improve access to investment opportunities.
"By enabling single-unit trading, the NSE is providing greater flexibility for investors, reducing entry barriers and encouraging wider participation, particularly from retail investors who have previously found it difficult to invest due to high minimum trade sizes," the NSE said.
Frank Mwiti, chief executive officer of the NSE, said the changes will increase financial inclusion and support the growth of retail investor participation, while also aligning with global best practices in equity trading.
The NSE has been on a rally in 2025, with investor wealth rising by 477 billion Kenyan shillings (about 3.69 billion U.S. dollars) in the first half of the year to 2.417 trillion Kenyan shillings, the highest level since mid-2022.
However, the bulk of the investors are institutional, with retail investors' participation at the market standing at a paltry 2.5 percent, according to the NSE.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Myanmar rice mills go solar, boosting sustainability, global market appeal
YANGON: Myanmar is taking a big step toward sustainable agriculture as the Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF) initiates the use of solar power in rice mills. Twenty-eight rice mills across Yangon, Ayeyarwady, Bago, and Naypyidaw will operate on solar energy in the current fiscal year 2025-26, with four mills having completed installation as of Tuesday (July 29), U Ye Min Aung, chairman of MRF, told Xinhua. The initiative aims to shift toward clean and renewable energy as the international markets value sustainability and low environmental impact, he said. Milling rice with solar energy not only improves product quality but also meets international environmental standards, he added. For international sales, China is a leading buyer of Myanmar rice, purchasing around 500,000 tonnes annually, while European countries import approximately 700,000 tonnes each year, he said. These markets are vital for Myanmar's rice industry, making solar-powered production a key factor in enabling premium pricing, he added. As part of this initiative, MRF has already signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with 17 Chinese solar companies, with plans to sign seven more, he said. "Chinese solar companies have been very supportive in meeting the technical and commercial needs of Myanmar's rice mill owners," he said, adding that solar-related items from China offer both quality and affordability. "Using solar energy reduces reliance on diesel by up to 70 percent," U Ye Min Aung said. The shift also aligns with global sustainability and net-zero goals, enabling clean, eco-friendly rice production, he said. "We also need to prioritize awareness and training programs to ensure proper use and maintenance of solar equipment," he added. Shwe Wah Yaung Solar Company's sales and marketing supervisor, Naing Zaw, said all solar equipment at the company is sourced from China. He explained that generators used in rice mills can impact rice quality due to gas emissions. "By installing solar systems, we can improve rice quality, which directly benefits exports," he said, adding that solar power also reduces operational costs and maintenance expenses. U Htun Myint, factory manager at Shwe Wah Yaung rice mill, one of Myanmar's top rice exporters, with annual exports of around 400,000 tonnes, highlighted the economic and environmental advantages of solar adoption. "By using solar power, we can significantly cut electricity costs and reduce reliance on diesel when grid power is unavailable. Operating on electricity allows us to maintain full production capacity, whereas diesel often limits output." "Solar energy ensures stable operations without full dependence on the power grid, lowers carbon emissions, and reduces noise pollution," he said. "This initiative benefits not only rice mills and the environment but also the country as a whole. For consumers, it can help lower production costs, and for the nation, it decreases oil imports, saving foreign currency," he added. With clean energy adoption, Myanmar expects to improve its rice production value chain by 10 to 20 per cent, contributing to both food security and economic growth, U Ye Min Aung said. - Xinhua
The Sun
7 hours ago
- The Sun
US-China tariff truce holds as Trump weighs extension
STOCKHOLM: US and Chinese officials concluded two days of trade talks in Stockholm with an agreement to pursue an extension of their 90-day tariff truce, though no major breakthroughs were announced. The discussions, described as constructive by both sides, aimed to ease escalating trade tensions between the world's two largest economies. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated, 'The meetings were very constructive,' but emphasized that President Donald Trump retains the final decision on whether to extend the truce before its August 12 deadline. Trump, returning from Scotland after signing a trade deal with the EU, said Bessent felt 'very good about the meeting, better than he felt yesterday.' China seeks reductions in US tariffs and looser tech export controls, while Washington pushes for structural economic reforms in Beijing. 'Cooperation between China and the United States will benefit both sides, while if they fight both will be hurt,' China's state news agency Xinhua reported. Analysts note China's strong negotiating position, given its dominance in rare earth minerals and manufacturing. Unlike the EU, which recently struck a deal with the US, China faces less immediate pressure to concede. 'China is well aware of its strong negotiating position,' said Cyrus de la Rubia, chief economist at Hamburg Commercial Bank. Trump hinted at a possible meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping by year-end, though officials confirmed no such discussions occurred during the Stockholm talks. The next round of negotiations is expected in 90 days. - Reuterspix
The Star
8 hours ago
- The Star
Beijing offers childcare subsidies to boost fertility
Beijing rolled out an annual childcare subsidy of 3,600 yuan (about RM2,120) until age three, as authorities look to spur a flagging birth rate with fewer young people choosing to have children. The high cost of childcare and education as well as job uncertainty and a slowing economy are among the concerns that have discouraged many young Chinese from getting married and starting a family. Subsidies will start from this year, with partial subsidies for children under three born prior to 2025, in a policy expected to benefit more than 20 million families of toddlers and infants, the official Xinhua news agency said on Monday. The plan is an 'important national livelihood policy' and direct cash subsidies would help 'reduce the cost of family childbirth and parenting', the National Health Commission said. Demographers and economists said while the move was positive, the amount was likely too small to incentivise people to have children. The country's population fell for a third consecutive year in 2024, with experts warning of a worsening downturn, after decades of falling birth rates following a one-child policy adopted from 1980 to 2015, coupled with rapid urbanisation. In the past two years, provinces nationwide have started handing out childcare subsidies in amounts that vary considerably, from 1,000 yuan (RM589) a child to up to 100,000 yuan (RM58,940), including housing subsidies. The government will fund the new national policy instead of local authorities, Xinhua said. Zichun Huang, China Economist at Capital Economics, said the sums involved were too small to have a near-term impact on the birth rate or consumption. 'But the policy does mark a major milestone in terms of direct handouts to households and could lay the groundwork for more fiscal transfers in future.' A nationwide scheme may offer some coordination and signal greater central commitment, said demographer Emma Zang, a professor at Yale University, but called for greater efforts. 'Without sustained structural investment in areas like affordable childcare, parental leave, and job protections for women, the effect on fertility is likely to remain minimal,' she added. — Reuters
