Oct. 15 (Bloomberg) -- Kenya Airways Ltd., sub-Saharan Africa’s third-biggest airline, advanced in Nairobi trading on expectations that it will report better earnings in its first half after a loss in the full year ending March 31.

The stock gained 1 shilling, or 4.8 percent, to 21.2 shillings, its highest price in almost three weeks.

The company’s half year ended on Sept. 30.

“They are expected to release results at the end of this month and there’s speculation they will be good,” Vimal Parmar, an investment analyst at Nairobi-based African Alliance Kenya Securities Ltd., said in an interview.

To contact the reporter on this story: Eric Ombok in Nairobi at eombok@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: October 15, 2009 03:55 EDT