The NASI closed down 1.14% at 244.72, with the N20I off 0.59% and the Banking index down 0.72%. Breadth was negative, 17 gainers against 30 losers of 55 counters traded. Commercial and Services led sector losses at -2.69%, while Investment rose 1.23%. Turnover fell 44.1% below its 20-session average to KES 507mn on 11,396 trades. Foreign investors were net sellers at KES -157.3mn, 52.6% of turnover, led by disposals in Equity Group (EQTY) and KCB Group (KCB), even as Safaricom (SCOM) topped value traded at KES 201.7mn. Standard Chartered (SBIC) and Umeme (UCHM) bucked the trend with gains, while StanBic Holdings, Sameer Africa (SGL) and I&M Holdings (IMH) led decliners.

On the news side, Standard Chartered Bank Kenya (SCBK) is deliberately narrowing its footprint toward wealthy clients and digital banking, a shift CBK now classifies as tier-two, with implications for its market share among listed banks. The IMF trimmed its 2027 Kenya inflation forecast to 5% from 5.9%, while keeping 2026 at 5.9% and growth forecasts unchanged at 4.5% and 4.7%, a backdrop relevant to bond and rate positioning ahead of December's Article IV mission. Kenya Airways (KQ) confirmed its Sh45bn bailout will fund aircraft repairs rather than fleet expansion, a capital allocation signal for a loss-making state carrier.