Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) benchmark NSE-20 Share Index -which tracks the market's performance- rose by 28.95 per cent to close at 4,133.02 points at the end of 2012. These numbers places the bourse as the second highest gainer among the stock exchanges in Africa and Middle East, after Egyptian Stock Exchange, and eighth globally. Growth in investor confidence has been a key reason in the positive results and is yet to see if it continues before the presidential and parliamentary elections set to be held on March 4.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and 23 financial lenders in the country announced an agreement, yet to be ratified, to reduce lending rates which are as high as to 25%, to not be more than 10% above their cost of financing, which currently ranges between 1 percent and 7 percent, according to Bloomberg.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and 23 financial lenders in the country announced an agreement, yet to be ratified, to reduce lending rates which are as high as to 25%, to not be more than 10% above their cost of financing, which currently ranges between 1 percent and 7 percent, according to Bloomberg.

The Nairobi Securities Exchange's benchmark index was the second-best performer after Egypt's among African and Middle Eastern bourses in 2012.

Increase president's proposed spending plans and cut oil money to be put into savings.

Higher food prices continue to reflect the impact of recent floods.

Manufacturing offsets the downturn in mining.

President promises to overhaul business law that now requires only 51% ownership.

Mining output contracted 8% during the month; manufacturing activity shrank 2.3%, official data show.