Equities Lose N89b as Weak Investor Sentiment Persists

By Dipo Olowookere

The further weakening of investor sentiment on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) extended the losses at the nation’s bourse to the fourth session this new year.

Business Post reports that the market breadth (advance/decline ratio) stood at 0.4x on 14 stock advancing against 34 stocks that declined.

At the close of transactions, the All Share Index (ASI) and market capitalisation depreciated by 0.80 percent each, with the year-to-date loss at 3.3 percent.

While the ASI declined by 238.62 points to finish at 30,400.28points, the market capitalisation decreased by N89 billion to settle at N11.337 trillion.

Taking a look at the price movement chart, Nestle Nigeria topped the losers’ log after its share price fell by N25 to close at N1450 per share.

Total Nigeria followed with a loss of N2.80k to settle at N200.20k per share, while Unilever Nigeria depreciated by N2.55k to end at N33.75k per share.

MRS Oil Nigeria also suffered a N2.55k loss to close at N23.15k per share, while Okomu Oil went down by N2.40k to end at N77.60k per share.

On the other side, Stanbic IBTC emerged the highest price gainer on Monday after its share value closed 50 kobo higher to finish at N47 per unit.

GTBank appreciated by 35 kobo to end at N33.85k per share, while Diamond Bank rose by 18 kobo to settle at N1.98k per share.

Eterna grew by 10 kobo to close at N4.40k per share, while Lafarge Africa went up by 5 kobo to finish at N11.35k per share.

During the yesterday’s trading session, the volume of shares exchanged by investors reduced by 33.42 percent, while the value increased by 88.73 percent.

A total of 222.6 million shares worth N3.3 billion were traded by investors in contrast to the 334.3 million equities valued N1.8 billion transacted the previous session.

Diamond Bank emerged the most traded with a turnover of 77.7 million units worth N153.1 million, while Zenith Bank followed with 19.8 million shares worth N430.1 million. FBN Holdings sold 10.8 million equities valued at N80.6 million, GTBank traded 8.5 million shares worth N286 million, while Access Bank exchanged 7.3 million equities valued at N42.9 million.