Economy
Four Stocks Trade Below 50 kobo Per Share After NSE New Rule
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Hours after the new pricing methodology and par value rules of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) took effect on Monday, January 29, 2018, four stocks fell below the earlier 50 kobo per share threshold at the market.
The new rules, already approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), made it possible for stocks to be traded below 50 kobo per share.
At the close of trading activities yesterday, four equities fell victim of the new rules, trading at 48 kobo per share.
These stocks were ABC Transport Plc, Lasaco Insurance Plc, Prestige Insurance Plc and Royal Exchange Plc.
Business Post gathered that with the new rules, the value of stocks, which before could not trade below 50 kobo per share because of the threshold, can now be determined by market conditions, especially demand and supply.
The par value of a share is the nominal or face value per unit as stated in a company’s corporate documents, i.e., the Memorandum of Association of the company.
According to the new rules, “Notwithstanding its par value, the price of every share listed on The Exchange shall be determined by the market, save that no share shall trade below a price floor of One Kobo per unit (N0.01).”
According to a statement issued by the NSE, “Investors are advised to contact their stockbrokers to ascertain whether any of their open orders, will be impacted by this amendment” the exchange advised.
“The Rules specify the revised price limit, price movements and tick sizes i.e. price floor, minimum pricing increments and minimum quantity to be traded that will change the published price.
“The Rules also classify equity securities into different price groups in order to achieve this, the revised Rules, the exchange states, will be implemented on The Exchange’s trading engine on the effective date.
“The amended stratification of price movements, price limits and tick sizes aims at improving liquidity, narrowing spreads, and ensuring that all price improving (up/down) transactions are material, making the market more efficient for all participants”, said Mr Abimbola Babalola, HoD Market Surveillance and Investigations Department.
“In order to achieve the aforementioned aims of improved liquidity, narrowed spreads, material price improvements, and market efficiency, the amendments to the Pricing Methodology Rule included the introduction of a new price group – Group C.
“It should be noted that the new Group C consists of equity securities that are priced below Five Naira (N5.00) per share, for at least four (4) of the last six (6) months, or new security listings that are priced below Five Naira (N5.00) per share at the time of listing on The Exchange.
“Group A required 10,000 units to move price by N10. For the price range trading period, equities in this group require N100.00 or above for 4 of the last 6 months, or new security listings priced at N100.00 or above at the time of listing.
“For group B requires minimum of 50,000 units to move price by N0.05 and for price range trading period, N5.00 or above but lower than N100,for 4 of the last 6 months, or new security listings priced at N5.00 or above but lower than N100 at the time of listing.
“While the group C, would require 100,000 units of shares to move price by N0.01, Equities in this category must have traded Lower than N5,for 4 of the last 6 months, or new security listings priced lower than N5 at the time of listing.
“Market participants are also informed that the new Par Value Rule specifies that the price of every share listed on The Exchange shall be determined by the market forces and equities may now trade below the erstwhile price floor of fifty Kobo (N0.50) per unit.
“Therefore, traders are required to ensure that as from the above stated effective date, all open and subsequent priced orders in equity securities comply with the amended requirements for each price Group of equities and in approved minimum increments accordingly.
“Investors are advised to contact their Stockbrokers to ascertain whether any of their open orders, will be impacted by this amendment.”
Checks by Business Post revealed that stocks trading at 50 kobo per share are mainly in the Insurance Sector.
More stocks are expected to trade below the 50 kobo per share threshold before the end of this week.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange extended its stay in the south for the fourth consecutive session after it shed 1.18 per cent on Friday, March 13.
The unlisted securities market recorded a loss despite closing without a price decliner, and ending with two price gainers led by Geo Fluids Plc, which gained 1o Kobo to sell at N3.10 per share compared with the previous day’s N3.00 per share. Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) Plc appreciated during the session by 2 Kobo to trade at 54 Kobo per unit versus Thursday’s closing price of 52 Kobo per unit.
When the market closed for the day, the market capitalisation lost N29.83 billion to close at N2.489 trillion compared with the N2.519 trillion it finished a day earlier, and the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) crashed by 49.84 points to 4,160.46 points from 4,210.31 points.
Market activity improved yesterday, as the volume of transactions rose 179.5 per cent to 10.4 million units from 3.7 million units, but the value of trades declined by 68.4 per cent to N29.9 million from N95.0 million, while the number of deals weakened by 11.5 per cent to 46 deals from 52 deals.
Central Securities Clearing Systems (CSCS) Plc remained the most active stock by value on a year-to-date basis with 38.4 million units worth N2.4 billion, Okitipupa Plc followed with 6.4 million units traded at N1.1 billion, and FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc transacted 6.3 million units for N584.3 million.
Resourcery Plc ended the trading session as the most traded stock by volume on a year-to-date basis with 1.1 billion units valued at N415.6 million, trailed by Geo-Fluids Plc with 130.8 million units valued at N504.5 million, and CSCS Plc with 38.4 million units worth N2.4 billion.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Naira continued to claw back some gains against the Dollar in the different segments of the foreign exchange (FX) market, as its value was strengthened on Friday.
In the black market, it gained N10 against the United States Dollar yesterday to close at N1,400/$1 compared with the preceding day’s rate of N1,410/$1, and at the GTBank forex counter, it chalked up N6 to close at N1,385/$1, in contrast to the N1,391/$1 it was traded a day earlier.
Similarly, in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEX), it appreciated against the greenback during the session by N5.28 or 0.38 per cent to quote at N1,366.23/$1 versus Thursday’s closing price of N1,371.51/$1.
It also improved its value against the Pound Sterling in the official market on Friday by N21.81 to settle at N1,812.99/£1 compared with the previous day’s N1,834.80/£1, and gained N13.86 against the Euro to sell at N1,568.03/€1 versus N1,581.89/€1.
Pressure eased further on the FX market as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) continued interventionist operations this week, selling Dollars to banks to boost liquidity after a $500 million boost last week.
This was complemented by inflows from foreign investors, exporters and non-bank corporates, among others, while Nigeria’s gross external reserves remained above $50 billion, the highest since 2009.
The Governor of the apex bank, Mr Yemi Cardoso, also eased fears of a Naira devaluation, saying the country’s financial system has been strengthened by reforms.
Regardless, external pressure looms as the US Dollar strengthened globally due to its war with Iran, now ongoing for three weeks.
Meanwhile, the cryptocurrency market was largely down as traders and investors continue to align with current realities.
The market is adapting to the conflict in real time. Early in the war, every headline produced an outsized reaction because nobody could price the tail risk. Now, traders have a framework where strikes happen, oil spikes and bitcoin dips only to recover again.
Cardano (ADA) depreciated by 3.8 per cent to $0.2623, Dogecoin (DOGE) lost 1.7 per cent to finish at $0.0948, Ripple (XRP) slumped 1.5 per cent to $1.39, Solana (SOL) dropped 1.4 per cent to sell for $87.33, Binance Coin (BNB) went down by 1.3 per cent to $653.58, Bitcoin (BTC) declined by 1.1 per cent to $70,670.63, and Ethereum (ETH) decreased by 0.9 per cent to $2,078.78.
However, TRON (TRX) appreciated by 1.7 per cent to $0.2941, while the US Dollar Tether (USDT) and the US Dollar Coin (USDC) remained unchanged at $1.00 apiece.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The price of the major crude oil grade, Brent crude oil, closed above $100 on Friday for the second consecutive session, as the Iran war heads toward its third week, with oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz still effectively at a standstill.
It gained 2.67 per cent or $2.68 during the trading day to close at $103.14 per barrel, while the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil grade appreciated by 3.11 per cent or $2.98 to settle at $98.71 per barrel.
Brent futures were up about 10 per cent for the week following the 27 per cent rise seen last week, which marked the biggest weekly gain in oil prices since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. WTI futures, which saw their best week since 1983 last week, ended the week more than 8 per cent higher.
US President Donald Trump said American forces launched a major bombing raid on Iran’s strategic Kharg Island, targeting military facilities on the key Persian Gulf outpost while warning Iran that its vital oil infrastructure could be destroyed if shipping in the Strait of Hormuz is disrupted.
The terminal accounts for roughly 90 per cent of Iranian crude shipments, loading millions of barrels per day onto tankers bound largely for Asian markets.
The US and Israel’s strikes in the conflict have largely targeted Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure. Oil facilities elsewhere in Iran have been hit, but Kharg’s massive storage tanks, jetties, and pipelines had remained untouched until the latest strike.
Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, vowed to keep fighting in a message delivered via state television.
There have been a number of attacks on foreign ships in or near the Strait, feeding into concerns that a prolonged war could translate to a global economic shock.
Prices are rising despite the US and its allies rolling out some measures to keep a lid on energy costs.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has agreed to release 400 million stockpiled barrels, the largest such action in history.
The US has issued a 30-day waiver for India to purchase sanctioned oil from Russia. President Donald Trump is considering loosening rules under the Jones Act that require American ships to transport goods between domestic ports, including oil and gas, in an effort to lower costs.
Traders are continuing to monitor developments in the Middle East.
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