BRVM rises 1.28%, led by utilities at 2.67%

The BRVM Composite closed up 1.28% at 481.64 points, while the BRVM Composite Total Return reached 191.21 points, also up 1.28%. Utilities led the session with a 2.67% gain to 234.91 points, ahead of the main index at 367.31 points, up 1.74%, and the BRVM-30 at 229.2 points, up 1.41%. Financials rose 1.39% to 232.39 points and telecommunications added 1.33% to 112.17 points, while discretionary consumption slipped 0.24% to 204.1 points. On the corporate front, Nigerdiaspora reports the July 16 appointment of Fayçal Younoussou as Ecobank Niger chief executive, while Abidjan.net says SOLIBRA commissioned 1 new borehole in Assié-Akpessé and APS reports that the Sonatel Foundation donated 1 medical ambulance to the Mbitéyène Abdou health post. On the market side, 3 notices dated July 23 relate to capital increases at BANK OF AFRICA BN, BANK OF AFRICA SN and BANK OF AFRICA BF, according to the analyst reports provided.