GSE Ends Week Lower Despite Friday Rebound
By Praisebell Rosemond Larbi
The Ghana Stock Exchange closed last week on a softer note, even though trading on Friday showed a strong recovery after days of mixed investor sentiment.
The market opened the week on a firm footing, with the Composite Index at 8,369 points and market capitalization at more than GH¢166 billion. But that early confidence didn’t last long.
By Tuesday, investor mood had weakened. The Composite Index fell to 8,284 points, wiping off a little over GH¢1 billion in market value. Analysts say that drop signaled early profit-taking by investors following a strong performance in previous weeks.
Midweek trading on Wednesday showed some improvement in volume, but the index remained flat, indicating continued caution as buyers and sellers waited for stronger triggers in the market. Market capitalization stayed slightly above GH¢165 billion, showing no strong momentum in either direction.
However, Thursday saw the biggest dip. The Composite Index fell further to 8,227 points, the lowest for the week. Total market capitalization dropped sharply to GH¢163 billion, reflecting a cumulative GH¢3.2 billion loss since Monday.
But just when the market appeared set for a full week of decline, Friday delivered a welcome rebound. Trading activity surged, with more than 3.5 million shares exchanged, the highest volume recorded during the week and accounting for nearly two-thirds of total weekly turnover.
This late uptick lifted the Composite Index slightly to 8,229 points and helped stabilize market capitalization around GH¢163.2 billion.
Financial stocks also joined the rebound. The GSE Financial Stocks Index moved up modestly to close the week at 4,188 points, showing renewed interest in the banking and financial sector.
Despite the weekly decline of about 1.7%, analysts say the overall market picture remains healthy. Both key indices are still significantly higher on a year-to-date basis, up more than 68% for the Composite Index and nearly 76% for the Financial Stocks Index.
In total, the market recorded more than 5.4 million shares traded for a value of GH¢19.5 million across the week, a sign that investor participation remains strong even in a period of volatility.
The Ghana Stock Exchange ends the week lower, but Friday’s rebound shows the market still has pockets of resilience as investors position themselves ahead of the upcoming trading cycle.
