u003cpu003eu003cstrongu003eThe local stock market was characterized by heavy trading during the week under review (28 January – 4 February 2013). Shares worth Rs 395.4 million were exchanged in a market environment that saw the market indices register important gains.u003c/strongu003eu003c/pu003eu003cpu003eThe total return index, SEMTRI, gained 44.94 points during the week, closing at 5,595.84 points. On a year-to-date basis, the SEMTRI has achieved a growth of 4.32%. The All-share index, SEMDEX, closed at 1,805.63 points against 1,791.13 points last Monday. Since the beginning of 2013, the SEMDEX recorded a growth of 4.25%. The SEM-7 index, which comprises the seven largest and most liquid stocks, closed at 353.14 points on Monday. At market close on that day, market capitalisation reached Rs 182.46 billion. Foreign investorsu0026rsquo; exposure to the local market in terms of net investment (purchases-sales) since the beginning of 2013 amounted to Rs 147.8 million.u003c/pu003eu003cpu003eThe top five traded securities for the week are: The Mauritius Commercial Bank Ltd (MCB), New Mauritius Hotels Ltd (NMHL), Alteo Ltd, Omnicane Ltd and State Bank of Mauritius Ltd (SBM). Their shares were exchanged for a total value of Rs 217.4 million, Rs 40.4 million, Rs 22 million, Rs 20 million and Rs 11.2 million, respectively, during this time frame. The shares of MCB, NMHL, Alteo, Omnicane and SBM closed at Rs 180, Rs 71, Rs 33, Rs 77 and Rs 93, respectively, on Monday 4u003csupu003ethu003c/supu003e February 2013.u003c/pu003eu003cpu003eAn analysis of the evolution of the prices of listed stocks indicates that out of the 43 stocks figuring on the Official List, 16 moved up during the week, 18 remained stable and 9 went down. The best performing stocks for the week were: Air Mauritius Ltd (+8.66%), Le Meritt Holdings Ltd (+7.56%), United Basalt Products Ltd (+5.32%), Lux Island Resorts Ltd (+3.66%) and New Mauritius Hotels Ltd (+3.65%). The worst performers were: Omnicane Ltd (-2.53%), Terra Mauricia Ltd (-2.51%), Bramer Banking Corporation Ltd (-1.35%), Rogers u0026amp; Co Ltd (-1.18%) and United Docks Ltd (-0.75%).u003c/pu003eu003cpu003eThe following data highlights the ten best performing stocks in terms of total return since the beginning of 2013.u003c/pu003eu003ctable align=center border=
Local market witnesses heavy trading during the week
