BSE liquidity rises

The Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) has enjoyed a higher turnover of both the volume and value of shares traded since the beginning of the year, returning to levels last seen before the pandemic. According to a report emailed on Tuesday, the recorded equity turnover amounting to P882.3 million between January and September 30, representing a 91% increase from the same period last year and a 64.3% jump from the corresponding period in 2020. Equity turnover, or the value of shares traded, was recorded at P1.2 billion in 2019, the year before the onset of COVID-19. BSE figures also show that the number of shares traded between January and September 30 this year reached 405.4 million, compared to 300.4 million and 289.7 million over the same period in 2021 and 2020 respectively. By comparison, 470.7 million shares exchanged hands in 2019. According to the BSE, for the period under review this year, Letshego Holdings, First National Bank Botswana and Sefalana Holdings accounted for the bulk of the equity turnover at nearly 70%. Of these three, Letshego accounted for P463.2 million or 52.5% of total equity turnover. Much of the pan-African microlender’s shares exchanged hands throughout the two trades in March and June amounting to P325.7 million.