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 Adedapo Adesanya
The Naira further depreciated against the United States Dollar by N3.46 or 0.25 per cent to N1,362.21/$1 from N1,358.75/$1 in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEX) on Friday, June 5.
However, it appreciated against the Pound Sterling in the same market window during the session by N4.47 to trade at N1,823.59/£1 compared with the previous day’s N1,828.06/£1, and gained N7.00 against the Euro to sell at N1,574.58/€1, in contrast to Thursday’s closing price of N1,581.58/€1.
For another trading session, the Nigerian Naira maintained stability against the Dollar in the parallel market and the GTBank forex counter on Friday at N1,375/$1 and N1,372/$1, respectively.
The Naira is expected to remain strong in the near term, backed by a rise in external reserves, which are nearing $50 billion, enhancing analysts’ confidence about its outlook in the second half of 2026.
Heightened global uncertainty has reduced the incentive for importers and corporates to demand FX, as cautious trade weighs on import needs. Analysts estimate a $40 billion net FX position for the year, a projection anchored in oil windfall gains.
As for the cryptocurrency market, prices remained depressed following a strong US jobs report that spurred markets to price in higher-for-longer interest rates, sending Treasury yields and the dollar up while hammering stocks, especially AI-related names. Crypto markets saw heavy leverage washouts with about $1.6 billion in positions liquidated over 24 hours.
Ethereum (ETH) gave up 4.9 per cent to trade at $1,584.68, Solana (SOL) fell by 3.3 per cent to $63.22, Bitcoin (BTC) crashed by 1.9 per cent to $61,333.23, Dogecoin (DOGE) slipped by 1.8 per cent to $0.0821, and Ripple (XRP) moderated by 1.8 per cent to $1.09.
Further, TRON (TRX) dropped 1.6 per cent to sell at $0.3197, Binance Coin (BNB) slumped by 1.0 per cent to $581.18, and Cardano (ADA) declined by 0.4 per cent to $0.1589, while the US Dollar Tether (USDT) gained 0.07 to sell at $0.9997, and US Dollar Coin (USDC) closed flat at $0.9998.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Crude oil prices fell on Friday as traders gained confidence that renewed conflict between the United States and Iran was growing less likely.
The price of Brent crude futures settled at $93.09 a barrel, down $1.94 or 2.04 per cent, and the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures finished at $90.54 a barrel, down $2.50 or 2.69 per cent.
President Donald Trump said the US will win the conflict with Iran either “militarily or on paper,” referring to the fitful negotiations with the Iranian government, and he suggested he could meet with Iran’s reclusive supreme leader “if it was to make a deal.”
He also said he had no desire to meet with Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen since the outbreak of violence on February 28 and was reportedly seriously injured in US-Israeli air strikes. He, however, added that if the two sides reached a deal, it was possible the two leaders would meet.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem rejected on Thursday a US-brokered agreement between Israel and the Lebanese government to halt the fighting. Iran has made a ceasefire in Lebanon a condition for any peace deal with America.
Oman said operations at Mina al Fahal port were unaffected after it was reported that oil loading had been suspended following an explosion near its mooring berths. Oman exports 800,000 to 900,000 barrels per day of crude from the terminal.
As the US-Iran war peace talks dragged on, traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, where a fifth of the world’s oil passes, remained limited. Gains have been capped by oil inventories lasting longer than expected, rerouted exports and falling demand.
The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies (OPEC) is sticking to its oil demand growth forecast of 1.2 million barrels per day for this year, its Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais said, despite the Middle East conflict and closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
OPEC crude output fell last month, hitting its lowest level in decades as the US blockade of Iran and disruption in the Persian Gulf continued to curb production.
Output from its 11 current members dropped by 1.22 million barrels per day to 16.33 million a day in May, with Iran accounting for more than half of the decline, according to a Bloomberg survey. That was the lowest in at least 37 years. The data excludes the United Arab Emirates, which left the organisation last month after six decades.
Key members of the OPEC+ are expected to nudge up targets by a modest 188,000 barrels again in July during a video conference on Sunday. The session is one of four online meetings OPEC and its allies are due to hold that day.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Crude production under the collective Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC ) fell in May to its lowest level in at least 37 years as the blockade of Iran by the United States and disruptions in the Persian Gulf, continued to limit output.
According to a Bloomberg survey released on Friday, output from the organisation’s 11 current members, including Nigeria, dropped by 1.22 million barrels per day to 16.33 million barrels per day last month.
Iran accounted for more than half of the decline. The data excludes the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which departed the cartel last month after six decades of membership.
War between a US-Israeli alliance and Iran has reduced oil supplies from the Middle East, largely closing the Strait of Hormuz waterway. Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the UAE and Kuwait have been forced to cut crude production. Iranian shipments face additional pressure following a US blockade of its ports imposed in mid-April.
Iranian output fell by 710,000 barrels per day to a five-year low of 2.34 million barrels per day in May, the survey showed. Central Command reported that US forces have redirected 127 commercial vessels to enforce the blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports.
Kuwait recorded the second-largest decline last month, with production falling by 310,000 barrels per day to 490,000 barrels per day, less than one-fifth of pre-war levels. Saudi Arabia, the group’s leader, saw output decrease by 240,000 barrels per day to 6.57 million barrels per day.
The production reductions have not prevented OPEC and its allies from raising quotas over recent months, continuing a year-long process of restoring output halted several years ago.
This comes ahead of a meeting scheduled to be held on Sunday, June 7, where a sub-group of seven members is expected to increase targets by 188,000 barrels again in July. The session is one of four online meetings OPEC and its partners plan to hold that day.
Delegates indicated the alliance has plans for two additional monthly quota increases in August and September. UAE output rose by 300,000 barrels per day to 2.44 million barrels per day in May, according to the survey.
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