By John Mathews

Humansoft Holding dives 50 fils; Zain flat

slid 7.27 pct, the steepest decliner of the day and Injazzat Holding Co topped the volume with 39.86 million shares.

Mirroring the day’s downswing, the market spread was skewed towards the losers. 37 stocks advanced whereas 41 closed lower. Of the 129 counters active on Wednesday, 51 closed flat. 3248 deals worth KD 17.94 million were transacted - a 27.77 pct surge in value from the day before.

Kuwait Food Co (Americana) was flat at KD 2.300 and Combined Group Contracting Co too did not budge from its earlier close of 0.780. Jazeera Airways was up 5 fils at KD 0.465 and ALAFCO dialed up 2 fils to end at KD 0.226. Gulf Insurance Group soared 50 fils.

National Industries Group eased 2 fils to KD 0.146 after trading over 2 million shares and Kuwait Cement Co climbed 5 fils. The company has recorded a net profit KD 16.30 million and earnings per share of 22.86 fils in the first nine-months of 2015 up from net profit of KD 14,07 million and earnings per share of 19.74 fils in the year before period.

Kuwait Portland Cement Co gained 20 fils and Heavy Engineering Industries and Shipbuilding Co was up 6 fils to 154 fils. Gulf Cable was flat at KD 0.410 off early lows and Qurain Petrochemicals Industries Co took in 2 fils. ACICO Industries Co added 5 fils to settle at KD 0.280.

Equipment Holding Co gave up 3 fils and Mezzan Holding Co closed flat. The company has clocked a net profit of KD 16.15 million earnings per share 54.49 fils in the Jan-Sept period up from net profit of KD 11.68 million and earnings per share of 39.42 fils in the same period last year.

Kuwait National Cinema Co climbed 5 fils to KD 0.970 and Independent Group closed 5 fils in red. Kuwait and Gulf Link Transport Co was unchanged at 48 fils and KGL Logistics Co followed suit.

In the banking sector, National Bank of Kuwait rose 10 fils on back of 1.2 million shares and Commercial Bank of Kuwait closed flat. The bank has clocked a net profit of KD 25.40 million and earnings per share of 18 fils in the nine-month period ending Sept 30, 2015.

Gulf Bank paused at KD 0.280 and Kuwait Finance House followed suit after trading 3.5 million shares. Al Ahli Bank climbed 5 fils to KD 0.385 and Ahli United Bank held steady at KD 0.550.