NASD OTC Market Ends Midweek Trading in Stalemate

By Adedapo Adesanya

The key performance indicators at the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange were unchanged at the close of transactions on Wednesday, December 14.

Business Post reports that the stalemate halted the bearish run witnessed at the unlisted securities market on Monday and Tuesday.

This situation had caused panic in the NASD OTC market, but things were calmer yesterday as investors stayed on the sidelines to monitor the exchange.

This left the prices of stocks on the trading platform unchanged at the close of transactions for the midweek trading session.

Consequently, the market capitalisation of the alternative securities exchange closed intact at N932.37 billion, while the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) was unchanged at 709.56 basis points.

However, transactions occurred yesterday as investors traded a total of 137,403 units of securities, in contrast to the 58,627 units of securities transacted in the preceding session, indicating a jump of 134.4 per cent.

The value of shares exchanged by the market participants went higher by 39.7 per cent to 5.5 million from the N3.9 million recorded in the previous session.

Also, the total number of deals closed higher by 75 per cent as seven transactions were executed, in contrast to the four deals quoted in the preceding market day.

When the closing gong sounded, AG Mortgage Bank Plc remained the most traded stock by volume on a year-to-date basis, with the sale of 2.3 billion units worth N1.2 billion. Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc followed with 688.1 million units valued at N14.3 billion, while Lighthouse Financial Services Plc was in third place with 224.7 million units valued at N112.3 million.

Similarly, CSCS Plc maintained its position as the most traded stock by value on a year-to-date basis with a turnover of 688.1 million units worth N14.3 billion, VFD Group Plc was in second place with 29.1 million units valued at N7.7 billion, while FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria Plc was in third place with 17.9 million units valued at N1.9 billion.