Business News of Wednesday, 3 March 2010

Source: GNA

Stock index edges up on ETI, CAL and GCB gains

Accra, March 3, GNA - The GSE All-Share Index jumped nearly two per cent on Wednesday, buoyed by gains in Ecobank Transnational Incorporated and two other financial stocks. The benchmark index rallied to close at 109.36 points or two per cen= t to 5,704.54 from 5,595.18 points. The rise brings the year to date gain to 2.37 per cent. On the broader market, there were five price changes - three positiv= e and two negative. ETI gained GH¢0.01 at GH¢0.14; CAL Bank appreciated by GH¢0.02= at GH¢0.19 and Ghana Commercial Bank continued its impressive run with GH¢= 0.01 gain at GH¢0.85. The laggards for the session were Produce Buying Company, which lost=

GH¢0.02 at GH¢0.15 and UT Financial Services, which shed GH¢0.01 at= GH¢0.23. Traded volumes rose more than two times at 827,658 shares from 305,1= 85 shares at the previous close on Tuesday. Market capitalisation closed the session higher at GH¢16,106.26 mi= llion compared to GH¢16,011.40 million.