A Monthly Market Report for the Malawi Stock Exchange has shown a continued underperformance of the local bourse, attributed to effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Figures from the report show that in November, MSE transacted a total of 22,670,196 shares at a total consideration of K3,183,659,610.28 in 223 trades. In comparison with figures from October, MSE has currently registered a 96.57% decrease in share volume and a 75.65% decrease in share value.

Figures from World Bank Malawi’s economy grew by 4.4% in 2019, a marked increase from 3.5% in 2018 supported by a rebound in agriculture production, as maize and key crops apart from tobacco increased. “Malawi’s three-year pathway of fast economic growth has been interrupted by the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.” says an economic overview by World bank, “The full extent of the pandemic’s negative impact is still uncertain as the crisis unfolds but the widespread impact of the COVID-19 crisis is expected to be felt in the fourth quarter and beyond, with reductions in tax revenue paired with increased expenditure on health and economic policy responses.”