The Ghana Stock Exchange opened August in retreat as selling in MTN Ghana, SIC Insurance, Intravenous Infusions and Ecobank Transnational Incorporated pulled both major indices lower and cut trading activity.
Shares worth GH¢5.04 million changed hands during the 7,266th session on Monday, August 3, down 32.85 percent from GH¢7.50 million on July 31. Trading volume fell, dropping 45.29 percent from 2.62 million shares to 1.43 million.
The GSE Composite Index lost 72.35 points, reducing its year to date return to 75.17 percent. The Financial Stocks Index shed 34.39 points but retained a strong annual gain of 76.53 percent, according to Ghana Stock Exchange market data.
The session carried the marks of “selective profit taking” after the extraordinary gains recorded across the market this year. Four losses were enough to outweigh three advancing stocks.
MTN Ghana controls turnover
MTN Ghana remained the market’s main liquidity anchor even as its share price slipped. The telecommunications company traded 377,742 shares valued at GH¢2.68 million, representing 53.14 percent of total turnover.
Its shares closed five pesewas lower at GH¢7.09, a decline of 0.70 percent. The price remains close to its 2026 peak of GH¢7.15, making Monday’s move look more like investors taking money off the table than a sudden change in direction.
Kasapreko Plc followed with 376,874 shares worth GH¢752,468.62. The recently listed beverage producer closed unchanged at GH¢2.00 and contributed 14.94 percent of turnover.
Together, MTN Ghana and Kasapreko accounted for more than two thirds of the session’s traded value. Activity was broad on paper, but cash stayed clustered around a few counters.
SIC leads four decliners
SIC Insurance recorded the steepest decline, falling 9.76 percent from GH¢5.74 to GH¢5.18. Only 15,358 shares were traded, generating GH¢83,755.
Intravenous Infusions lost 7.14 percent to close at GH¢0.78 despite recording 322,821 shares worth GH¢252,606.52. ETI also weakened, declining 1.55 percent to GH¢1.90 on turnover of GH¢232,624.73.
The declines deserve context. SIC has travelled a long way from its 2026 low of GH¢1.20 and had previously touched GH¢6.09. Intravenous Infusions has also been repriced sharply, moving between GH¢0.05 and GH¢0.93 this year. Its latest retreat came even after the company reported a return to profitability for the first half of 2026. Context matters when reading Monday’s losses.
Three stocks reach new highs
There was still room for a few bright spots.
Dannex Ayrton Starwin climbed 9.09 percent to a new 2026 high of GH¢0.48, although just 3,834 shares changed hands. HORDS gained 7.69 percent to GH¢0.42, while Cocoa Processing Company rose 5.88 percent to GH¢0.18. Both finished at their highest prices of the year.
Several larger counters held steady. Ecobank Ghana closed at GH¢39.00 after generating GH¢244,686 in turnover. GCB Bank remained at GH¢43.20, GOIL stayed at GH¢7.96 and CAL Bank finished unchanged at GH¢0.79.
Ordinary shares produced GH¢4.76 million, or 94.56 percent of total turnover. NewGold contributed GH¢18,957.99 from 41 units.
Monday was weak, not disastrous. Both indices remain above 75 percent for the year. The next few sessions should show whether investors are settling into deeper profit taking or simply catching their breath after a remarkable rally.
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