Economy
Bears Maintains Grip on Local Bourse as Equities Lose 1.53%
By Dipo Olowookere
Negative sentiment continued yesterday on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) as investors await the release of more 2017 financial results of companies listed on the local bourse.
By the time the market closed for business on Thursday, the stock market went down by 1.53 percent, shrinking the year-to-date return to 10.31 percent.
The All-Share Index (ASI) went down by 654.11 points to close at 42,185.38 points, while the market capitalisation reduced by N234 billion to settle at N15.091 trillion.
Also, the market breadth finished negative with 39 stocks suffering price depreciation, while 15 equities experienced price appreciation.
Seplat suffered the biggest loss at the stock market yesterday after declining by N17.50k to close at N767.50k per share.
Mobil depreciated by N7.40k to finish at N176.30k per share, while Dangote Cement went down by N6.20k to end at N262.60k per share.
Furthermore, Unilever shed N4.90k to settle at N52.90k per share, while ConOil reduced by N1.75k to close at N33.45k per share.
On the flip side, it was a good day for Nestle as the stock appreciated by N15 to close at N1395 per share.
Nigerian Breweries grew by N2.10k to settle at N133 per share, while Dangote Sugar went up by 80k to end at N22 per share.
Stanbic IBTC advanced by 65k to finish at N49.80k per share, while NPF Microfinance Bank gained 18k to close at N2.2k per share.
Business Post reports that the volume of transactions increased yesterday by 8.34 percent while the value of trades went down by 11.93 percent.
A total of 404.7 million shares worth N6 billion were traded by investors on Thursday in 5,403 deals against the 373.5 million equities traded on Wednesday in 5,220 deals worth N6.9 billion.
Zenith Bank was the busiest stock at the market yesterday, trading 67 million shares valued at N1.9 billion.
FBN Holdings followed with 48.4 million equities sold for N544.2 million, and Regal Insurance, which exchanged 41.2 million shares for N11.5 million.
Fidelity Bank transacted 32.6 million shares valued at N83.4 million, while UBA sold 27 million equities for N318.4 million.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The pre-registration training and examination for capital market operators (CMOs) for the second quarter of 2026 has been postponed.
Business Post gathered that the new date for the exercise is now Monday, June 15, 2026.
This information was disclosed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) through a circular on Monday, June 8, 2026.
The Nigerian capital market regulator stated that this postponement has also resulted in the extension of the deadline for registration to Friday, June 12, 2026.
In the notice today, the SEC expressed its regret for the inconvenience this action may cause operators, who had prepared for the initial date of the training and examination.
“Further to the recent circular on Q2 2026 Pre-registration Training and Examination, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) hereby informs all eligible applicants for the Q2 2026 Pre-registration Training and Examination that the commencement date has been postponed to Monday, June 15, 2026.
“Registration on the designated portal has also been extended to Friday, June 12, 2026. All other conditions contained in the circular remain unchanged.
“The commission regrets any inconvenience this postponement may cause and appreciates the understanding of all applicants,” the disclosure noted.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
One of the leading healthcare firms in Nigeria, Fidson Healthcare Plc, has listed additional shares on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited.
The new stocks absorbed into the stock market were 600 million units, raising the total issued and fully paid-up shares of Fidson to 3,000,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each from 2,400,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each.
The fresh equities came from the company’s rights issue of 600,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each at N35.00 per share.
They were issued to existing investors on the basis of one new ordinary share for every existing four ordinary shares held as of the close of business on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
Confirming the development, the regulator in a notice said, “Trading licence holders are hereby notified that an additional 600,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each of Fidson Healthcare Plc were on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, listed on the daily official list of Nigerian Exchange Limited.
“The additional shares arose from the company’s rights issue of 600,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each at N35.00 per share on the basis of one new ordinary share for every existing four ordinary shares held as at the close of business on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
“With the listing of the additional 600,000,000 ordinary shares, the total issued and fully paid-up shares of Fidson Healthcare Plc have now increased from 2,400,000,000 to 3,000,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each.”
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
This news will surely excite local contractors with verified claims of N100 million or less, as the federal government has approved their payments.
This approval for the disbursement was given by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele.
This followed a verification and reconciliation exercise designed to ensure only validated claims qualify for payment.
The beneficiaries cover contractors across multiple ministries, departments and agencies. The release of the funds is expected to enable contractors to return to project sites, pay workers, settle suppliers and meet outstanding financial commitments.
In an announcement on Monday, the Federal Ministry of Finance also said this latest batch of payments would ease liquidity pressure on small businesses and accelerate economic activity nationwide.
It was noted that the payments for verified claims of N100 million below were strategically done to spread economic impact broadly rather than concentrate disbursements among a handful of large firms.
The payments form part of a broader push to clear inherited contractor obligations, with over N700 billion verified in recent months.
“For many beneficiaries, the release of funds represents more than a financial transaction. It provides the certainty needed to sustain operations, preserve jobs, complete ongoing projects, and contribute to economic recovery and growth,” the ministry said in a statement.
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