Nigerian Stock Market Loses N416b in One Week amid Political Anxiety

By Dipo Olowookere

The heating up of the political terrain in the country is gradually having a negative effect on the Nigerian stock market, Business Post reports.

During the just-concluded trading week, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) lost about N416 billion as a result of huge selling pressure at the market.

Analysts had predicted that trading during the week would be positive as a result of improving macroeconomic indices in the domestic space, especially with the further ease in the inflation rate, positive GDP growth, passage of the 2018 budget and retention of the interest at 14 percent by the apex bank.

However, these did nothing to drive the equity market up last week as the stock market did not record any single rise throughout last week.

This was attributed to profit-taking activities by investors, especially foreign investors, who are parts of the major drivers of the local bourse. It was observed that foreign investors are reassessing their portfolio compositions so as to limit their losses as a result of political intrigues in the country ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Business Post reports that at the close of transactions last week, the All-Share Index (ASI) depreciated by 2.84 percent to settle at 39,323.62 points, while the market capitalization decreased by N416 billion to finish at N14.244 trillion against its previous close of N14.660 trillion.

During the week also, a total of 14 equities appreciated in price, lower than 20 in the previous week, while 61 stocks depreciated in price, higher than 54 equities of the previous week, and 94 counters remained unchanged, lower than 95 recorded in the preceding week.

A total turnover of 1.372 billion shares worth N16.022 billion in 21,099  deals were traded last week by investors on the floor of the exchange in contrast to a total of 1.457 billion shares valued at N23.666 billion that exchanged hands the previous week in 19,674 deals.

It was further observed that the Financial Services Industry, measured by volume, led the activity chart with 1.010 billion shares valued at N8.670 billion traded in 12,049 deals; thus contributing 73.62 percent and 54.11 percent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

The Services Industry followed with 107.246 million shares worth N229.715 million in 712 deals, while the third place was occupied by Consumer Goods Industry with a turnover of 71.946 million shares worth N5.506 billion in 3,818 deals.

Trading in the top three equities; Zenith Bank, African Alliance Insurance Company and Ikeja Hotel, measured by volume, accounted for 276.876 million shares worth N2.939 billion in 2,112 deals, contributing 20.18 percent and 18.35 percent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

The top gainer for the week was Ikeja Hotels, which rose by 44.94 percent to settle at N2.58k per share.

It was followed by MRS Oil Nigeria, which appreciated by 21.18 percent to finish at N36.05k per share, and Law Union and Rock Insurance, which increased by 20.99 percent to close at 98k per share.

Niger Insurance grew by 19.05 percent to end at 25k per share, while Consolidated Hallmark Insurance increased by 11.11 percent to finish at 30k per share.

On the flip side, Eterna closed the week as the worst performing stock after shedding 22.27 percent of its value to close at N5.27k per share.

It was trailed by Japaul Oil, which went down by 20 percent to end at 24k per share, and Dangote Flour, which decreased by 16.82 percent to close at N8.90k per share.

Transcorp declined by 16.35 percent to close at N1.33k per share, while AIICO Insurance fell by 16.18 percent to end at 57k per share.

Also traded during the week were a total of 70 units of Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) valued at N1,943.00 executed in 7 deals, compared with a total of 153,246 units valued at N4.009 million that was transacted in the preceding week in 22 deals.

In addition, a total of 10,754 units of Federal Government bonds valued at N11.412 million were traded during the week in 5 deals, compared with a total of 7,508 units valued at N7.506 million transacted in the previous week in 12 deals.