Dar bourse sheds over Sh1.4 trillion as banking stocks drag market lower

Dar es Salaam. The Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange (DSE) recorded a notable decline during the first week of March 2026, as key market indices came under sustained downward pressure.

According to the Solomon Stockbrokers Weekly Market Pulse for the week ending March 6, 2026, the All Share Index (DSEI) fell by 4.31 percent to close at 3,815.04 points.

The Tanzania Share Index (TSI) posted a steeper decline of 5.45 percent to settle at 8,477.43 points.

The downturn erased significant market value.

Total market capitalisation dropped to Sh33.14 trillion, representing a weekly loss of more than Sh1.4 trillion.

Market analysts attribute much of the decline to heavy losses in banking counters, which weighed strongly on overall market performance.

The Banks, Finance and Investment Index fell by 7.55 percent during the week.

Major financial institutions recorded sharp price corrections.

Shares of CRDB Bank Plc dropped by 15.56 percent to close at Sh2,550.

Meanwhile, Maendeleo Bank Plc declined by 6.64 percent, while National Investments Company Limited lost 10.13 percent.

Mwalimu Commercial Bank Plc also recorded a steep fall of 16.67 percent.

However, a few smaller counters registered gains.

Shares of Mwanza Community Bank Plc rose by 13.68 percent, while Dar es Salaam Community Bank Plc gained 13.45 percent during the same period.

In the industrial and allied segment, the sector index declined by 1.97 percent.

Shares of Tanzania Breweries Limited fell by 3.75 percent to Sh9,750, while Tanzania Cigarette Company Limited dropped by 2.83 percent.

Despite the overall decline, some counters posted modest gains. Tanzania Portland Cement Company Limited edged up by 1.49 percent, while Tanga Cement Company Limited rose by 0.96 percent.

The commercial services index registered a slight increase of 0.97 percent.

This was largely supported by a sharp rise in shares of Precision Air Services Plc, which surged by 69.70 percent during the week.

However, the gain was partly offset by a 7.06 percent decline in Swissport Tanzania Plc.

Trading activity remained concentrated in a few key counters.

CRDB Bank Plc dominated weekly turnover at Sh18.59 billion.

It was followed by NMB Bank Plc with Sh2.93 billion and Tanzania Breweries Limited with Sh2.67 billion.

Several listed firms also maintained strong dividend payouts from their 2025 financial results.

Tanzania Cigarette Company Limited declared a total dividend of Sh950 per share, while Tanzania Breweries Limited announced Sh1,232 per share.

In the fixed-income segment, yields in the primary market ranged from 4.60 percent for 35-day Treasury bills to 12.02 percent for 20-year Treasury bonds.

Secondary market activity showed varied yields, with weighted average returns reaching 12.82 percent for the Azania Bondi Yangu and 12.32 percent for the Al-Barakah Sukuk bond.

Market participants are now looking ahead to a 20-year Treasury bond auction scheduled for March 19, 2026.

Several coupon payments for existing bonds are also expected in mid-to-late March, which could influence liquidity conditions in the coming weeks.