The Botswana Stock Exchange’s (BSE) flagship platform, the Domestic Companies Index (DCI), rose by 4.2 percent in the first half of the year, powered by robust performances in financial counters and others.

Over the corresponding period last year, the DCI had risen 2.5 percent, indicating that this year has seen broad price strengthening across the local exchange.

According to data compiled by Stockbrokers Botswana, leading the DCI in the first half of the year was Standard Chartered whose share price gained a net 44%, followed by Chobe Holdings with 26.4%, Absa Botswana with 14.3%, and Engen Botswana with 11.7%.

Besides Stanchart and Absa, other financial counters amongst the gainers in the first half of the year include BIHL, First National Bank Botswana, and Access Bank.

On the other end of the spectrum, however, the counters with biggest losses on the DCI in the first half include Letlole la Rona, Letshego Holdings, Choppies and G4S Botswana. As at June 30, Letlole la Rona had shed a net 28.2%, while Letshego was down 20%.

The microlender on July 4 dipped below P1, the lowest it has reached in about two years.

The Botswana Telecommunications Corporation Limited, which is perennially amongst counters losing on the DCI, closed the half-year flat, with its share price having fluctuated during the period but returned to its starting point of 77 thebe by June 30.