Saturday, May 28, 2011

Largest Kenyan insurer eyes new African markets

Namibia’s FTSE/Namibia Overall Index (FTN098) rose for the fourth day, gaining 0.9 percent to 862.64 by the 4 p.m. close in Windhoek, the highest close since May 10.
The Ghana Stock Exchange Composite Index declined for the third day, slipping 0.5 percent to 1,162.67 by the 3 p.m. end of trading in Accra, the lowest closing level in two weeks. The Nigerian Stock Exchange All-Share Index advanced for the second day, gaining 0.4 percent to 25,829.75 by the 2:30 p.m. close in Lagos, according to an e-mailed statement from the exchange. Kenya’s All-Share Index climbed for the third day, increasing 0.1 percent to 75.01 by the 3 p.m. close in Nairobi. Mauritius’s SEMDEX Index rose 0.1 percent to 2,083.35 by the 1:30 p.m. close in Port Louis.
The following shares rose or fell in sub-Saharan Africa, excluding South Africa. Stock symbols are in parentheses.
Barclays Bank of Kenya Ltd. (BCBL) , the country’s second-biggest lender by market value, dropped for the first in 12 trading days, falling 50 cents, or 0.7 percent, to 69 shillings. The company’s shareholders approved a four-for-one share split at its annual general meeting in Nairobi.

Another local insurer, CIC Insurance announced last month that it has raised money to set up offices in Malawi, Rwanda and South Sudan.

Jubilee Insurance already operates in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and Mauritius.

The company is the largest insurer in East Africa by its turnover.

The company’s gross profits stood at 24 million U.S. dollars in the year ended December 31, 2010, an increase of 84 per cent compared to 2009.

The directors have recommended a total dividend of 110 per cent, which equates 0.06 U.S. cents per share.

The company also declared a bonus share issue in the ratio of 1: 10 for the second consecutive year.

Profit attributable to shareholders grew by 106 per cent, with earnings per share increasing to 0.43 U.S. cents from 0.2 cents, said the company that has operated in Kenya for 75 years.

"We believe our growth is the result of innovative product range, our service delivery and market credibility in our reliability and long term track record," said Juma.

The company announced intention to start selling insurance services through the banks once the government gives the go ahead.

"We feel that bank assurance is something that will help the penetration of the insurance market into the mainstream market," he said.

The company’s general insurance grew by 25 per cent, medical insurance by 28 per cent and life insurance by 28 per cent.

"Jubilee now provides insurance protection to more than 300,000 clients across East Africa, as reflected in the strong growth across all business lines, and we will continue to increase our footprint to address the insurance needs of existing and potential customers.

The increase will bring it down for a short while because it causes some investors to cut down on their shares due to dilution,” Rufus Mwanyasi, head trader at Nairobi-based Canaan Capital Ltd. said by phone today. The share also started trading without the right to a dividend today.

 



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Kenya’s Shilling Heads for First Weekly Gain in Four as Bank Curbs Supply

Kenya's shilling headed for the first weekly advance in four against the dollar as the central bank continued tightening currency supply.

The currency of East Africa's biggest economy appreciated as much as 0.5 percent to 85.23 per dollar and traded 0.2 percent up at 85.45 at 2:24 p.m. in the capital, Nairobi. The shilling has rallied 0.5 percent this week.

The central bank sold 1 billion shillings ($12 million) of repurchase agreements at an average rate of 5.75 percent, bringing the total sold since May 11 to 19.9 billion shillings, "keeping with the stance of monetary tightening," it said in a statement on its Bloomberg page today. Kenya's monetary policy committee is expected to announce its decision on interest rates on May 31.

"The continuous mopping up is curbing money supply and the market expects the central bank rate to be raised, a further indication of the monetary-tightening policy being enforced to rein in on inflationary pressure," Joshua Anene, a dealer at Nairobi-based Commercial Bank of Africa Ltd., said in a phone interview today.
The MPC unexpectedly increased the key lending rate by a quarter of a percentage point to 6 percent at its last meeting on March 22, following eight reductions between December 2008 and January 2011. Inflation accelerated for the sixth straight month in April to 12.05 percent in April, the highest in two years and above the government’s 5 percent target, as food and fuel prices rose.
“The market expects the central bank rate to be raised by a minimum of 50 basis points to 6.75 percent and guided by the rising yield on government securities,” Anene said. The monetary policy committee will meet on May 31.

The market expects the central bank rate to be raised by a minimum of 50 basis points to 6.75 percent and guided by the rising yield on government securities," Anene said. The monetary policy committee will meet on May 31.

Yields on 91-day bills climbed to 7.94 percent at an auction yesterday, the highest since January 2009. Yields also increased on 2-, 10-, and 20-year bonds sold on May 25.

 



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