The Ghana Stock Exchange closed lower on Thursday, August 20, as losses in GCB Bank, Enterprise Group and GOIL overshadowed gains in smaller stocks and pushed both major market indices down.
The GSE Composite Index dropped 0.69 per cent to 15,065.05 points, shedding 105.22 points from the previous session. The GSE Financial Stocks Index lost 1.38 per cent to finish at 7,873.99 points.
Despite the setback, the broader index remained 71.77 per cent higher since the beginning of 2026, while the financial index retained a 69.44 per cent gain.
A total of 4.59 million shares changed hands during the 7,279th trading session, generating GH¢12.96 million.
GCB drives trading but suffers significant loss
GCB Bank accounted for almost half of the day’s trading value, recording transactions worth GH¢6.35 million across 162,515 shares.
The bank’s share price, however, dropped 5.13 per cent from GH¢41.15 to GH¢39.04, placing it among the session’s biggest losers.
Its trades represented approximately 48.98 per cent of total market turnover, showing just how heavily Thursday’s activity depended on one stock.
MTN Ghana followed with 370,755 shares worth GH¢2.59 million. The telecommunications company closed marginally lower at GH¢6.99, compared with GH¢7.00 previously.
Together, GCB and MTN Ghana generated approximately GH¢8.94 million in traded value, more than two thirds of the entire session.
Enterprise and GOIL add to market pressure
Enterprise Group recorded the sharpest decline among the major listed companies, falling 9.93 per cent from GH¢9.06 to GH¢8.16.
GOIL dropped 5.90 per cent to GH¢7.50, while Ecobank Transnational Incorporated declined 2.67 per cent to GH¢1.82.
Benso Oil Palm Plantation also retreated, losing 1.28 per cent to close at GH¢77.00.
ZEN Petroleum Holdings ended the session 0.27 per cent lower at GH¢10.90. Clydestone Ghana slipped 0.15 per cent to GH¢6.52.
The pressure from financial and energy stocks proved too much for the benchmark indices, even though several smaller companies attracted buyers.
Smaller stocks post gains
Dannex Ayrton Starwin led the gainers, advancing 9.43 per cent from GH¢1.06 to GH¢1.16.
Intravenous Infusions climbed 8.33 per cent to GH¢0.65, while Digicut Production and Advertising gained 6.25 per cent to close at GH¢0.17.
Cocoa Processing Company rose 5.26 per cent to GH¢0.20. SIC Insurance added 1.48 per cent to finish at GH¢5.50.
Digicut recorded the highest trading volume, with more than two million shares valued at GH¢326,175.37 changing hands.
Intravenous Infusions followed with 841,477 shares worth GH¢531,667.75. Hords recorded 545,437 shares valued at GH¢453,764.46 but still closed 8.54 per cent lower at GH¢0.75.
Kasapreko traded 254,221 shares worth GH¢507,746.61 and held steady at GH¢1.99. CalBank recorded 224,158 shares valued at GH¢171,130.49, while Fan Milk generated GH¢174,966.75 in turnover.
The NewGold exchange traded fund added GH¢918,306.54 from 1,986 units, with its price unchanged at GH¢462.39.
The market had buyers and respectable turnover. What it lacked was support in the bigger names, where losses were strong enough to pull the entire exchange lower.
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