By Dipo Olowookere
The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) suffered a huge loss on Monday as investors continue to talk about a leaked audio made public on Sunday involving Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele and some top persons at the apex bank.
As reported, the CBN head was allegedly getting agitated about a “missing N500 billion”, but the bank later debunked this, saying issues being discussed in the phone conversation was mainly about bailout funds given to state Governors in the earlier part of this present administration of President Muhammadu Bihari.
During trading today, it was observed that investors were bailing out, trying stay on the sidelines to watch how things unfold in the coming days on the matter and the listing of MTN Nigeria shares on the NSE.
Business Post reports that the stock market in the first trading day of the week depreciated by 1.26 percent to extend the year-to-date loss to 9.37 percent and at the close of transactions, the market capitalisation reduced by N141 billion to finish at N10.701 trillion, while the All-Share Index (ASI) declined by 363.37 points to settle at 28,484.44 points.
An analysis of the sector performance showed that things were not encouraging as the banking index shed 2.80 percent, insurance index went down by 2.72 percent, the consumer goods industry lost 1.57 percent, the oil and gas index depreciated by 1.05 percent, while the industrial index dropped 0.15 percent.
Business Post reports further that the market breadth ended negative on Monday with 30 price losers and 11 price gainers.
Mobil Oil Nigeria topped the fallers’ log with N8 of its share value lost to close for the day at N165 per share.
It was followed by Stanbic IBTC, which went down by N1.95k to finish at N44.05k per unit, and Guinness Nigeria, which declined by N1.50k to end at N50 per share.
GTBank lose N1 today to close at N31 per unit, while PZ Cussons depreciated by 50 kobo to settle at N8.50k per share.
At the other side, Okomu Oil put up an impressive performance and was rewarded with a N7 price appreciation, closing at N77 per share.
Africa Prudential gained 28 kobo to rise to N3.82k per unit, while FBN Holdings increased its share price by 25 kobo to end at N7.50k per share.
Caverton appreciated by 9 kobo to settle at N2.55k per unit, while Neimeth Pharmaceuticals rose by 5 kobo to close at 55 kobo per share.
The activity chart was mixed on Monday with the volume of shares transacted by investors depreciating by 8.73 percent, while the value improved significantly by 104.71 percent.
A total of 214.7 million equities worth N2.8 billion were traded today in 3,856 deals in contrast to the 235.2 million shares valued at N1.4 billion executed in 3,130 deals in the previous session.
A further analysis indicated that UAC of Nigeria dominated the activity chart on Monday, accounting for 41.3 million units worth N289.1 million.
GTBank sold a total of 38 million shares valued at N1.2 billion, while UBA traded 16 million equities for N96.8 million.
Sterling Bank exchanged 13 million worth N34.5 million, while Transcorp transacted 12.3 million equities valued at N14.2 million.
Adedapo Adesanya