The Namibian Stock Exchange offered buyers with contrasting indicators this week because the NSX Local index superior 0.42% to shut at 709.5 factors, whereas the broader NSX Overall Index retreated 0.30% to complete at 1770.5 factors. Market capitalization rankings remained secure as of March 16, 2025, with FirstRand Namibia sustaining its dominant place because the alternate’s largest native firm at N$12.5 billion. Capricorn Group continued to carry second place with N$11.0 billion in market worth, whereas Namibia Breweries and Mobile Telecommunications remained tied for third place, every valued at N$6.0 billion. Standard Bank Namibia Holdings emerged as this week’s high performer, appreciating 1.7% to shut at N$9.66 per share. Mobile Telecommunications followed with a modest achieve of 0.6%, ending the week at N$7.99 per share, additional strengthening its market place. Trading exercise confirmed vital curiosity within the property sector, with Oryx Properties main quantity statistics at N$5.4 million value of shares altering palms. Standard Bank Namibia Holdings secured the second place in buying and selling quantity with N$1.2 million. On the forex entrance, the Namibian greenback demonstrated power throughout main overseas exchanges. The native forex appreciated 0.56% towards the US greenback to shut at N$18.15, whereas gaining 0.51% towards the British pound to finish at N$23.46. Against the euro, the Namibian greenback held nearly regular with a marginal achieve of 0.02%, closing at N$19.77.
Namibia’s annual inflation fee confirmed a major cooling development in February 2025, dropping to three.6 p.c in comparison with the 5.0 p.c recorded within the similar month final yr, in accordance with the newest shopper worth index knowledge. The month-to-month inflation fee registered a modest enhance of 0.4 p.c, considerably decrease than January’s 1.1 p.c uptick, indicating a deceleration in worth pressures throughout the financial system. Regional inflation patterns displayed minimal variance, with Zone 2 (Khomas area) and Zone 3 (//Kharas, Erongo, Hardap, and Omaheke areas) each recording barely above-average charges at 3.7 p.c. Meanwhile, Zone 1, encompassing the northern and northeastern areas of Kavango East, Kavango West, Kunene, Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, and Zambezi, skilled a slightly decrease inflation fee of three.5 p.c. Core inflation, which excludes risky elements akin to meals and vitality costs, stood at 3.5 p.c for February, slightly below the headline determine of three.6 p.c, suggesting underlying worth stability within the broader financial system. Analysis of the inflation elements reveals that meals prices proceed to exert vital upward strain on general costs. The ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ class emerged as the first inflation driver, contributing 1.2 proportion factors to the headline determine. Housing-related bills, captured beneath ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas, and Other Fuels,’ shaped the second largest contributor at 0.9 proportion factors, whereas ‘Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco’ added an additional 0.5 proportion factors.