BSE plummets to 'worst performance in history'

Market analysts say before this, the BSE's worst performance in a single day had been October 31, 1997 when it lost 4.28 percent.  The financial counters, whose massive market capitalisation anchors the BSE, drove the local bourse down as desperate investors sold stock ahead of the festive season.

First National Bank Botswana, Barclays and Standard Chartered all lost significant ground on Wednesday as shareholders converted their holdings into holiday cash. Another lower capitalised financial counter, Blue, was among the losers, while blue chip Letshego was unchanged.