Interest Rate and Volatility of Share Prices of Firms Listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange, Kenya

Purpose: The study sought to establish the effect of interest rate on volatility of share prices of companies listed at the NSE. The study was anchored the loanable funds theory. Methodology: The study employed a descriptive research design. The population of the study was the 20 companies listed at the NSE that forms the NSE share index as of December 2022. The study applied census where all the accessible population of all the 20 NSE share index was used. Data was gathered from secondary sources by the aid of a secondary data collection sheet. Data was obtained from financial and statistical reports released by the CBK. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The descriptive statistical tools included frequencies, percentages, means, variances and standard deviations. Inferential statistic tools included Pearson’s Product Moment correlation and the multiple regression analysis. Findings: The findings indicated that interest rate (β3=0.52939, P=003) have significant positive effect on share price volatility. The study recommended that the monetary committee at CBK should maintain stable interest rates in order to encourage borrowing as it would foster investment in the NSE and other sectors. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The recommendation is in line with the Loanable Funds Theory, as it seeks to establish a reliable and advantageous climate for borrowing. This approach allows businesses and investors to make more effective investment plans, as they can predict the cost of borrowing over time. Additionally, the monetary committee at the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), responsible for setting the policy rate, should take into account how their decisions influence short-term interest rates in the economy. This consideration is important for the well-being of businesses, investors and the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE).