Business and Finance

Illovo share price jumps, mixed fortunes on Malawi Stock Exchange

Illovo share price jumps, mixed fortunes on Malawi Stock Exchange

Illovo Sugar Malawi plc registered a 15 percent share price jump on the Malawi Stock Exchange (MSE) last week, emerging as one of the top performers.

According to the MSE summary report for the week ended March 14 2025, the Illovo share price went up from K1, 558.00 to close at K1, 791.70.

The counter’s positive outturn comes amid growing concerns of scarcity of its product, white sugar, on the local market, coupled with a recent hike in prices.

On the local bourse, Nico Holdings plc also demonstrated positive momentum, with its shares rising to K795.24 from an opening price of K789.00, while FMB Capital Holdings plc recorded notable activity with 79 trades valued at K324.47 million.

FDH Bank plc led the market in terms of trading volume, with 273 trades executed during the week, moving 2.07 million shares valued at K653.07 million. The bank’s shares closed at K315.19, showing marginal growth from its opening price.

National Bank of Malawi plc continues to hold its position as the one with the most valuable stocks on the exchange, trading at K6, 200.09 per share with a market capitalisation of K2.89 trillion.

Standard Bank plc followed, with its shares trading at K7, 930.04, though it saw limited activity with only 10 trades executed during the week.

NBS Bank plc saw significant trading activity with 178 trades moving 1.38 million shares valued at K482.72 million, closing the week at K349.57.

The telecommunications sector showed mixed performance, with Airtel Malawi plc attracting substantial interest with 109 trades moving 2.57 million shares valued at K329.15 million.

The firm’s shares closed at K128.04, maintaining relative stability from its opening price of K128.02.

Meanwhile, TNM plc saw 58 trades with shares closing at K26.27, slightly down from its opening price of K26.30.

Sunbird Tourism plc and Old Mutual plc recorded no trades during the week, with their share prices remaining unchanged at K300.03 and K1, 950.03, respectively.

Minority Shareholders Association of Listed Companies Central Region Chapter Chairperson Purity Paschal Chitalo said investor sentiment remained positive following positive gains recorded in most of the counters in recent months.

“This is good for the market and the investing public, especially that we are coming from a background where no trade could be recorded on the market in a whole week,” Chitalo said.

In a recent interview, MSE Chief Operating Officer Kelline Kondowe said they expected such performance to continue