The Stock Exchange of Mauritius launches the SEM Sustainability Index (SEMSI)

The Stock Exchange of Mauritius (SEM) has launched, on Monday 7^th September 2015, the SEM Sustainability Index (SEMSI). The SEMSI tracks the price-performance of companies listed on the Official Market and the Development & Enterprise Market which demonstrate strong sustainability practices.

SEMSI provides a robust measure of listed companies against a set of internationally aligned and locally relevant economic, environmental, social and governance criteria. It offers a useful tool for domestic and international investors with an appetite for responsible investment in frontier markets to consider SEMSI sustainable companies as potential investible companies. SEMSI also fits withGovernment’s vision for a sustainable Mauritius.

By setting up SEMSI, the SEM has embraced a leading role in creating a more sustainable capital market and in promoting responsible investment. The total market capitalization of SEMSI constituents stood at Rs 93.16 billion as at Monday 7^th September 2015 and opened the trading session of 8^th September 2015 at 100 points.

For the week, the local stock market ended on a positive note. The Total Return Index, SEMTRI, closed the session of Monday 7^th September 2015 at 6,475.49 points gaining 40.95 points during the week. The All-share index, SEMDEX, closed the same session at 1,940.45 points against 1,930.70 points a week earlier. The SEM-10 index, which comprises the ten largest and most liquid stocks, closed at370.13 points. The market capitalisation stood at Rs 216.09 billion at market close on Monday.

Total transactions amounted to Rs 263 million during the week. The top traded companies were: MCB Group Ltd (MCBG), Sanlam Africa Core Real Estate Investments Ltd (SARE), SBM Holdings Ltd (SBMH), Phoenix Beverages Ltd (PBL) and New Mauritius Hotels Ltd (NMHL). They were exchanged for a total value of Rs 94.4 million, Rs 60.2 million, Rs 22.7 million, Rs 20.5 million and Rs 8.6 million. The shares of MCBG, SARE, SBMH, PBL and NMHL closed at Rs 210.00, USD 5.50, Re 0.87, Rs 400.00 and Rs 18.50 on Monday 7^th September 2015.

An analysis of the evolution of the prices of listed stocks indicates that out of the 53 stocks figuring on the Official List, 11 moved up during the week, 29 remained stable and 13 went down. The best performing stocks for the week were: Gamma-Civic Ltd (+9.85%), MCFI Ltd (+9.05%), SBM Holdings Ltd (+3.57%), Rogers & Co. Ltd (+2.74%) and Mauritius Union Assurance Co. Ltd (+2.13%). The worst performers were:Lottotech Ltd (-6.17%), Alteo Ltd (-2.65%), Caudan Development Ltd (-2.36%), Innodis Ltd (-2.20%) and MDIT Ltd (-1.89%).

The following data highlights the ten best performing stocks in terms of annualised total returns since their listing on the stock exchange.

On the Development & Enterprise Market (DEM), at market close on Monday, the two indices, the DEMEX and the DEMTRI, closed at 203.61 points and 255.69 points respectively. Market capitalisation stood at Rs 48.39 billion. A total volume of 1.2 million shares for a total value of Rs 24.7 million has been traded during the week. The ten best performers in terms of annualised return since listingare: Margarine Industries Ltd, United Bus Service Ltd, Associated Commercial Ltd, Phoenix Investment Company Ltd, ABC Motors Ltd, Swan Life Ltd, Morning Light Ltd, Livestock Feed Ltd (O), United Investment Ltd and The Union Sugar Estates Ltd. The total return varies from 21.07% to 38.39%.

On the international front, the financial markets ended on a negative note. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the NASDAQ went down 3.25% and 2.99% respectively during the week. In Europe, Britain FTSE-100, Germany DAX and France CAC-40 lost 3.28%, 2.53% and 3.25% respectively during the same time frame.