The Casablanca Stock Exchange experienced a significant drop in trading activity, recording a total of 195.6 million dirhams (MDH) in transactions, down from 244 MDH on Wednesday and 348.3 MDH the previous day. This regression into negative territory underscores the lack of momentum in a market that is struggling to maintain any sustained recovery efforts.

The previous trading session had already cast a mixed impression on investors. The MASI index briefly peaked at 17,235 points before relinquishing much of its gains, ultimately closing at 16,991 points, which represented a modest increase of only 0.58%. However, Thursday's downturn has reasserted control for sellers, jeopardizing the stabilization attempts initiated at the beginning of the week.

All benchmark indices were affected by this wave of decline. The MASI 20 index, which focuses on the most liquid stocks, fell by 1.43% to 1,211.93 points, bringing its year-to-date decline to 18.42%. Meanwhile, the MASI ESG index retreated by 1.09% to 1,242.31 points, erasing its recent gains and sliding back into negative territory for the year at -0.74%. The MASI Mid index, which tracks mid-cap stocks, also faced a setback, declining by 1.56% to 1,611.63 points, leading to an annual change of -12.48%.

Looking at individual stock performances, ZDJ led the day with an impressive gain of 9.97%, reaching 257.45 dirhams, closely followed by SRM, which rose by 6.00% to 459.35 dirhams. Other notable gainers included REB (+5.77% at 104.00 dirhams), OUL (+5.15% at 1,225.00 dirhams), and MUT (+0.96% at 221.00 dirhams).

Conversely, the day’s top decliners were led by SOT, which plummeted by 7.35% to 291.00 dirhams, followed by CMT (-6.76% at 4,000.00 dirhams), CAP (-5.79% at 203.50 dirhams), AGM (-5.64% at 6,680.00 dirhams), and T2S (-4.95% at 190.10 dirhams).

On the futures market, contracts for the MASI 20 also mirrored the corrective trend of the session. The MASI20 FUTURE DEC26 contract settled at 1,212.20 points, down by 0.92%, while the MASI20 FUTURE MAR27 and MASI20 FUTURE JUI27 contracts fell by 1.35% (to 1,202.50 dirhams) and 1.36% (to 1,192.90 dirhams), respectively. The MASI20 FUTURE SEP26 contract also closed lower, declining by 1.36% to 1,183.40 points.

As reported by boursenews.ma.