Ghana Stock Exchange recorded a 3rd straight win as new year-highs ended mid-week trading

Let us see what happened on the Ghanaian stock market so far in this week. Having gone three successive sessions without a positive return, the Ghana Stock Exchange-Composite Index picked up 7.74 points, to close trading at 1,042.37 points. The change brought the year-to-date return to 7.74% as at Monday. Gains in Ecobank Transnational Inc,(ETI) and UT Bank (UTB) ended a five-day losing streak as the GSE-Financial Index climbed 10.76 points clear of Friday's closing at 872.12 points.
A total of 0.20 million shares

Focusing on the Banking sector of the Ghana Stock Exchange (Part I)

The financial sector on the Ghana Stock Exchange includes banking and non-banking stocks. There are seven (7) banks on the exchange, six of which operate in the country and one in Gambia, (Trust Bank ltd, TBL). The banks operating in Ghana include CAL Bank (CAL), Ecobank Ghana (EBG), Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB), HFC Bank (HFC), Standard Chartered Bank (SCB), and UT Bank (UTB).

Let us now look at the various facts & figures behind these banks and how they performed since January 2012 on the Stock market.
I would be concentrating on GCB & HFC in this post.

Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB);

GCB - Bloomberg Chart: Price movement from Dec 2011 to May 2012. 

With market capitalization of about GHS 506.15 million, GCB began the

Taking a closer look at Unilever Ghana Limited (UNIL)

Today, I want us to focus on Unilever Ghana Limited (UNIL) and it's performance in 2011 and in the year so far. In my earlier post about the 1st Quarter of the Manufacturing sector, I wrote on the current standing of the company on the exchange. 

UNIL: 1st Quarter Chart on GSE: (courtesy; Bloomberg & GSE) 

We would look at more figures and how investors are reacting. UNIL as we know, manufactures and markets consumer goods throughout Ghana some of which includes toilet soaps, personal products, detergents, and consumable food products.

This year, UNIL began trading at GHS 6.64 (03.01.12) per share on the exchange. UNIL has issued about 62.50 million ordinary shares on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) with market capitalization of GHS 509.38 million. As released by the exchange, UNIL records a dividend yield (%) of 5.89. It was also recorded a price per book value from the most recent quarter as reported by Bloomberg as 8.6373. 

Investors reaction to the stock on the exchange has not changed so much. The shares are trading from time to time and most of the time as odd lots. As at today, the price remains at it's year high of GHS 8.15.

UNIL reported in March 2012 that it has made a revenue of GHS 239,005 for the 2011 financial year. In a press release to the Ghana Stock Exchange, it reports a profit after tax for the year as GHS 30,115, an increased of the one for 2010 which was GHS 17,947. Shareholders equity increase from GHS 41,340 to GHS 48,893.(NB: all figures are expressed in thousands of GH cedis unless otherwise stated)

UNIL would be having its Annual General Meeting on 27th April 2012 at the National Theatre. Shareholders are advised to go and contribute to the discussions and also vote on issues. Moreover, the company has proposed a dividend per share of 0.4800 pesewas which has a qualifying date as 25th April, 2012.

We hope to keep our eyes on UNIL and it's affairs in the household & consumer products sector.

Ghana Stock Exchange Composite Index: So far in 2012

The Ghana Stock Exchange Composite Index (GSE-CI) includes all ordinary shares listed on the GSE with the exception of those companies whose shares are listed on other exchanges. (e.g.  ETI, TLW).  The base index is 1000 and the index is a market capitalization weighted index.

Last year, the index closed at 969.03 (30-12-11) below the base index. There were some highs and lows this New Year and investors are hoping to see the index above the base index.

Below is how the index fared so far in 2012. [22-12-11 to 19-01-12]

This Week in focus on the Ghana Stock Exchange (16-01-12 to 20-01-12)

Relationship Managers & Receptionists are not Stock Brokers. Talk to the right person.

 I have been observing this for some time now and I think it is getting on my nerves and moreover, investors are losing money because of this issue. I have been a victim and it was due to my ignorance. Don't make the same mistake. Some thing must be done. The Securities and Exchange Commission must act now to protect investors.

To many people in the Ghanaian financial market, everyone that works in a brokerage firm or with a Licensed Dealing Member (LDM) is having a good knowledge about the market or is a stock broker (Authorized Dealing Member). This misinformed public perception is reinforced by some ordinary workers at some brokerage houses who give their misleading recommendations about stocks on the market to ignorant investors. They speak so fluently and courageous as if they are authorized to give investment advice whiles their job is just to help investors or clients fill forms, explain the various investment opportunities to the client or direct them to the licensed /authorized advisor.  

On several occasions, a Relationship manager of a reputable Brokerage house tried to advise me on my investments with the aim of convincing me to invest in the firm's investment product which was a mutual fund whiles I insisted on talking to a broker. She thought I was just an ordinary investor who knows little or nothing about what I’m doing. She told me the stock market is not a place I should invest in. I asked why? And all she was able to say is that she doesn't invest there so she won't advise anyone to.  This was so surprising to me because I make so much money from the stock market. Moreover, she and her colleagues don’t have any authority to confuse investors in the name of investment advisory. It’s pathetic that investors are misled by this kind of ignorant people who act as experts. This must stop now.

I experienced the same thing in another brokerage firm when a receptionist tried to mislead me just because there was no broker around at that time. I ended up lecturing her about the current affairs on the market and the last thing she asked was my business card.

The Securities and Exchange Commission did not license these firms as broker-dealers or investment advisors because of the bogus advices their receptionists and relationship managers give. Every stakeholder must note this and I would advise all investors to seek for good advice from authorized, qualified and recognized investment advisory firms or people. The fact that someone works in such firms doesn’t make the person qualified to give investment advices. Be cautious and insist on talking to the best before you make any investment decision. Meanwhile don’t forget to do your homework before you invest. Study very well what you are investing in and talk to the experts not ‘ignorant’ receptionist.

Value Investing and its rewards on the Ghana Stock Exchange.

There are different kinds of stocks or shares of companies on the Ghana Stock Exchange and every investor has a purpose for investing with reference to individual risk preference and time horizon. An investor’s purpose for investing could be for growth or for income or value. Value investing is investing in stocks believed to be worth far more than their current prices rather than those that pay high dividends or seem likely to appreciate irrespective of underlying value. 

On the stock market, there are some stocks that are mispriced. Mispricing is calculated as the difference between the estimated intrinsic value and the market price of a stock. Intrinsic value of an asset, in this case stock, is the value of the asset given a hypothetically complete understanding of the asset’s investment characteristics.  Therefore when a stock is undervalued on the exchange, there is an investment opportunity and smart investors take advantage of that.

The Question then is, how do you know whether a stock is undervalued or not? This is where you need an expert to advice you. Knowing this involves a lot of factors and calculations. One must first valuate the stock using some figures on the financial statement of the company. Some industry experts say that, UT bank is currently undervalued on the stock market. They make their argument with respect to the potentials of the company and how low it is currently priced on the Stock market (0.33p, courtesy: GSE). One thing you should know is that, so many investors do these calculations and that informs their investments strategy. An advice to you is that, for an active strategy to be consistent and successful, the investor’s expectations must differ from consensus expectations and be, on average, correct as well.