The Nairobi All Share edged up 0.01 of a Point to close at 123.22. The All share is +29.896% in 2013.

The Nairobi NSE20 firmed 8.5 points to close at 4796.30.

The Shilling was last trading at 87.34. The price of crude oil [which has risen sharply on the Global Exchanges and to 16 month highs] spiked the Shilling. Any respite in the price of Crude Oil will be helpful for the Shilling.

The Equity Market awaits the H1 earnings season where I feel the set-up is for earnings to beat street estimates.

In Commercial and Services, Safaricom was the most actively traded, closed unchanged at 7.05 and traded 12.045m shares worth 85.214m.

Kenya Airways firmed 1.57% to close at 9.70 and traded 697,600 shares. Kenya Airways will rally sharply on crossing 10.00.

Nation Media firmed 0.325% to close at 311.00, traded 118,900 shares.

Standard Group firmed 1.82% to close at 28.00 and traded 1,000 shares.

LongHorn Kenya rallied 7.575% to close at 10.65 and traded just 200 shares. LongHorn Kenya has rallied 18.333% so far this week.

ScanGroup traded 100,200 shares and closed unchanged at 61.50.

In Banks, Kenya Commercial Bank eased 0.59% off a record closing high to close at 42.25 and traded 775,600 shares. Kenya Commercial Bank is +42.0168% in 2013.

Barclays Bank ticked 0.28% higher to close at 17.70 and traded 1.868m shares worth 33.099m.

CFC Bank improved 0.76% to close at 66.00 on good volume of 337,500 shares worth 22.28m.

Equity Bank closed unchanged at 33.50 and traded 738,200 shares. There was buy side demand for 204.4% more shares than were traded during the Session at the finish Line.

Standard Chartered eased 0.33% to close at 303.00 and transacted 75,300 shares. Standard Chartered trades on a Trailing PE of 11.609.

In Industrial and Allied, Carbacid rallied 2.8571% to close at 144.00 [a 2 month high] and traded 101,400 shares worth 14.68m. Carbacid accelerated H1 PAT +51% to 264.231m. With Q1 2013 soft drinks litres consumption expanding +5.825% versus Q1 2012, Someone isn evidently calculating that Carbacid is surfing a rising tide. EABL ticked 0.285% to close at 351.00 and traded 184,200 shares worth 64.828m.

EABL is +32.452% in 2013 and well supported.

KenolKobil rallied 3.51% to close at 8.85 and traded 670,800 shares. KenolKobil has rebounded 10.625% since closing at a 52 week Low of 8.00 on the 10th of July. The Settlement with KPRL has been well received and predictably.

Total Kenya eased 1.64% to close at 15.00 and traded 10,700 shares.

Express was the biggest gainer at the Securities Exchange today and traded just 100 shares at 3.95 +9.72%.

Kengen firmed 1.5625% to close at 16.25 and traded 179,800 shares.

GEMS

Home Afrika eased 1.32% to close at 18.75. Home Afrika rallied 108.33% to close at 25.00 on the 15th and 16th of July. Home Afrika has corrected 25% July 16th through today.