Economy
How to Begin Stock Market Trading
By Dipo Olowookere
Many times, I have been asked to explain how the stock market works and the steps needed to begin investment in that critical sector of the economy.
This article is mainly to give those interested in joining the stock market the key things they need to know before jumping on the train.
It is important to state that the stock market is highly volatile and not for those not willing to take ‘calculated risks.’
Before I continue, we need to understand what the stock market is.
The stock or equity market is a place or platform set aside for the exchange of stocks of companies admitted to trade their securities to investors.
Now, before you begin to trade stocks on the exchange, you need to acquaint yourself with the terms used. You can check this article for assistance Understanding Terms Used in Stock Market (Part 1).
To the subject matter, I will try to make things very simple as I can, though I am not a very good teacher, I must admit.
Before you jump on the train, you need to ask yourself these important questions, why do I want to invest in the stock market. Am I investing as a trader, long term investor or medium?
When you find answers to these questions, you can then look for the company that fits into your investment tenor.
Let me quickly explain the terms I just used above; trader, long term and medium-term investors.
Traders at the stock market are mainly those interested in buying stocks when they are cheap and sell immediately they hit their target price, mostly within the shortest possible time say a week or less or slightly more.
For the long-term investors, they buy stocks for the future purpose and are not after any immediate gains. These people have investment plan of 5 years or more, while those in the medium-term category invest for dividend, price appreciation, say within 3 month, 6 months or a year.
So, when you consider which of the three categories you want, you can then study the stocks that can perfectly fit and then invest.
Now on the stock buy, you have to read a lot about the performances of the companies listed on the exchange and study their trends and price movements, checking the 52-week lows and highs so as to know when to buy and sell.
In Nigeria, the banking stocks, most especially the tier-one, are good because they have good price appreciation and dividend payout.
Another thing you must also consider is the amount you’ve earmarked to invest in stocks. This will help you determine the stocks to buy.
The good thing is you don’t have to have millions or hundreds of thousands to begin stock market trading. You can have as low as N10,000 to begin with. What this means is that your amount will determine the number of units of the stock you can acquire at that particular time. If you have like N10,000 and you are interested in buying a stock selling at N50 per unit, you will only be able to get 200 units minus the brokerage fee.
This takes me to the next thing you must consider before joining the stock market; getting a good stockbroker.
You need a stockbroker, who is a professional authorised to help investors or clients buy and sell shares at the stock market.
There are several authorised stockbrokers in Nigeria. Some of them even have trading platforms where you can trade yourself. Some of them offer free trading and investment tips, suggesting which stocks you can buy, sell or hold.
However, before you choose a broker, you need to select those who charge lower brokerage fee. This is the amount they charge clients for executing your order. You pay this fee whenever you are using them to buy or sell your stocks.
Most times, they will require you to register with them and fund your account by paying to a bank account. They will help you with the creation of an account with the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS), which is like a database of all investors at the stock market.
When you buy shares through a stockbroker, your account will be credited with the volume of shares purchased and when they are sold, the number of stocks offloaded by you would be subtracted from your account. Let me just put it in a simple term, the CSCS is like your bank account.
After all these, it is important to try demo trading before the real thing. This will give you an idea of how the market works. You can use this opportunity to see if you understand stock market trading. In most cases, these demo trading platforms give you a virtual money to trade with. They make it look real, with the brokerage charges deducted.
I must confess to you, investing in stock market is fun and you need to experience it. However, like they say in a stock market group I belong to, be ready to ‘pay school fees’ to the Nigerian Stock Exchange. This simply means you must be prepared to lose some money in the stock market, but this must not discourage you because before a child starts to walk and run, he must first crawl and fall. We all have paid and are sometimes still paying.
Before I stop for now to take your questions, you must understand that there are some factors that tinker with stock prices. So, you need to watch out for these.
Now, I will be ready to take your questions.
By Dipo Olowookere
Buying interest in consumer goods, energy and banking stocks further raised the Customs Street by 0.12 per cent on Thursday despite profit-taking in the insurance and industrial goods sectors.
According to data from the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited showed that the banking index grew by 0.62 per cent, the consumer goods space rose by 0.15 per cent, and the energy counter increased by 0.06 per cent, while the insurance sector crashed by 0.93 per cent, with the industrial goods segment flat.
At the close of business, the All-Share Index (ASI) went up by 297.10 points to 245,209.34 points from 244,912.24 points, and the market capitalisation gained N191 billion to finish at N158.278 trillion compared with the previous day’s N158.087 trillion.
Eterna led the gainers’ log yesterday after it chalked up 10.00 per cent to settle at N36.30, ACA Capital improved by 9.63 per cent to N11.95, Legend Internet expanded by 9.52 per cent to N4.60, FCMB jumped by 8.55 per cent to N12.70, and Honeywell Flour surged by 7.98 per cent to N17.60.
On the flip side, Fortis Global Insurance led the losers’ chart after it shed 10.00 per cent to trade at N2.52, Ecobank declined by 9.99 per cent to N72.10, Chellarams depleted by 9.85 per cent to N11.90, Thomas Wyatt dipped by 9.83 per cent to N3.21, and UPDC slipped by 8.45 per cent to N3.25.
During the trading day, 531.8 million shares worth N20.5 billion exchanged hands in 44,826 deals compared with the 824.1 million shares valued at N25.5 billion transacted in 48,114 deals on Wednesday.
This indicated that the volume of trades was down by 35.47 per cent, the value of transactions depreciated by 19.61 per cent, and the number of deals decreased by 6.83 per cent.
The busiest stock for the session was FCMB, which traded 131.7 million units for N1.6 billion, First Holdco transacted 43.5 million units worth N6.0 billion, AVA Capital exchanged 36.3 million units valued at N432.0 million, Chams traded 36.3 million units sold 36.3 million units valued at N149.8 million, and Access Holdings ended with a turnover of 24.4 million units worth N638.8 million.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Brent crude rose by 3.83 per cent or $3.04 to $82.29 per barrel on Thursday after an information that an Iranian parliament committee was reviewing a bill that would ban US and Israeli vessels from the Strait of Hormuz.
Also, the price of the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures went up by 81 cents or 1.05 per cent to $77.29 per barrel during the session.
Under the apparent draft, Iran would ban American and Israeli ships from transiting the strait. Other nations that have harmed Iran would not be allowed to transit until compensation is paid, according to the draft. Iran would impose penalties on violators equivalent to 20 per cent of the value of cargo aboard a ship.
Market analysts noted that crude traders remain focused on the US-Iran agreements, and the longer the delays, the more prices will fade back to the upside.
Iran has warned Gulf states that any new US attack on its territory would trigger attacks on critical energy infrastructure across the region.
Before the Iran conflict began in late February, about one-fifth of global daily oil and liquefied natural gas supplies flowed through the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, Yemen’s Houthis said they carried out missile and drone attacks on “Saudi deployments” in Marib and Hadramout in Yemen on Thursday. This has led to elimination of Saudi-aligned fighters as well as destruction of military camps, weapons depots and vehicles.’
Also, Iran and Oman appear to be close to agreeing on joint management of the Strait of Hormuz with Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, saying the deal with Oman was “in the final stages.”
Saudi Arabia has slightly lowered the official selling price for its flagship Arab Light crude oil to Asia in September.
Elsewhere, a major oil refinery in Russia’s Yaroslavl region was on fire after a big Ukrainian drone attack. The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the country’s military had hit two Russian oil refineries – the Bashneft-Novoil refinery in the republic of Bashkortostan, and the Slavneft-Yanos refinery in the Yaroslavl region.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange closed flat on Wednesday, August 5, as the market witnessed weaker trading activity with only two deals executed.
In the midweek session, the volume of securities exchanged by investors dropped 99.9 per cent to 802 units from the 1.6 million units recorded on Tuesday. The value of securities further decreased by 99.6 per cent to N208,240 from the preceding session’s N47.6 million, and the number of deals significantly went down by 93.9 per cent to two deals from the 33 deals recorded a day earlier.
Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Plc remained the most traded stock by value on a year-to-date basis, with 3.4 billion units worth N8.4 billion, followed by Infrastructure Credit Guarantee (Infracredit) Plc with 2.3 billion units sold for N6.5 billion, and Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc with 76.9 million units transacted for N5.5 billion.
GNI Plc was also the most active stock by volume on a year-to-date basis, with 3.4 billion units exchanged for N8.4 billion, followed by Infracredit Plc with 2.3 billion units traded for N6.5 billion, and Resourcery Plc with 1.1 billion units valued at N415.7 million.
There were no price gainers or losers yesterday.
As a result, the market capitalisation stood unmoving at N2.739 trillion, while the NASD Security Index (NSI) remained unchanged at 4,563.96 points.
