Economy
NSE Index Rises by 7.01% in Q3 2017
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A recent report released by FSDH Research revealed that the Nigerian equity market as measured by the Nigerian Stock Exchange All Share Index (NSE ASI) appreciated by 7.01 percent in the third quarter of 2017.
This, it stated, was the strongest Q3 performance in the last four years.
The report said the stable macroeconomic environment was the major driver of the positive performance in the equity market and it expects this trend to continue in the last quarter of the year.
FSDH Research’s analysis of the historical trend of the equity market between 2012 and 2016 shows that the equity market rallied in December of each year.
FSDH Research’s historical analysis shows that there is a strong correlation between the movement in crude oil price and the Nigerian equity market.
The consensus on the short-term outlook for crude oil (Bonny Light) price is that it will remain above $50 per barrel.
The sustained high crude oil price coupled with improved oil production has led to a sustained accretion to the external reserves, which stood at $32.74 billion as at October 3, 2017.
The firm said it expects a continued boost to the external reserves in the short-to-medium term as oil price and production continue to strengthen because it is positive for the equity market.
Additionally, the introduction of the Investors’ and Exporters’ Foreign Exchange (FX) Window (I&E Window) has increased the supply of foreign exchange into the Nigerian economy and led to relative stability in the FX market. The I&E Window has also attracted more foreign investments into Nigeria. FSDH Research’s analysis of the capital importation data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) between January and July 2017 shows that there was a growth in capital importation in 2017, compared with 2016.
The total capital importation between January and July 2017 stood at $3.76 billion, representing a growth of 85.32 percent over $2.03 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2016.
Other Investments (OI) – Loans attracted the highest capital of $1.69 billion between January and July 2017, closely followed by Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) – Equity of $1.15 billion, and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) – Equity of $513.23 million.
FSDH Research said it expects continued foreign inflow into the equity market as the FX market remains stable.
It pointed out that this improved liquidity will boost the expected rally in the equity market. The drop in the yields on the fixed income securities should lead to portfolio realignments in favour of the equity market to take advantage of higher returns.
At the last auction on October 4, 2017, the yield on the 364-Day NTB stood at 18.65 percent, lower than the average yield of 22.71 percent recorded between January and September 2017.
Similarly, the yield on the 16.39 percent FGN January 2022 Bond stood at 15.83 percent as at the close of trading on October 4, 2017, lower than the average yield of 16.08 percent recorded between January and September 2017.
FSDH Research notes increased economic activities in most of the sectors of the Nigerian economy in September 2017.
A review of the latest Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) report that the CBN published for the month of September 2017 shows that economic activities in the manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors continue to strengthen.
The Composite Manufacturing Index (CMI) expanded for the sixth consecutive month in 2017 to stand at 55.3 points in September 2017, from 53.6 points in August 2017.
The Composite Non-Manufacturing Index (CNMI) also expanded for the fifth consecutive month to 54.9 points in September 2017 from 54.1 points in August 2017.
The report is an indication that the Q3 2017 earnings of quoted companies will be an improvement over previous quarters.
According to FSDH Research, its forecasts for the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Q3 and Q4 2017 show that the GDP should grow in excess of 2 percent.
The firm says it expects the equity market to respond positively to the strong Q3 2017 GDP figures that the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) will release on 22 November 2017.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Federal Ministry of Finance has directed the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to suspend enforcement of disputed recapitalisation fees and a directive requiring NICON Insurance Limited and the Nigeria Reinsurance Corporation to transfer their entire fresh capital into an escrow account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The ministry also demanded a detailed response and legal justification from NAICOM over assessments of N305 million against NICON and N375 million against Nigeria Re as part of the ongoing insurance industry recapitalisation exercise.
The directive was contained in a letter dated August 6, 2026, signed by the Permanent Secretary, Finance, Mr Raymond Omachi, on behalf of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele.
The letter followed a July 27 petition by NICON and Nigeria Re over the implementation of the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act, 2025. The companies challenged NAICOM’s demand for a one per cent capital injection fee, alongside processing and verification charges under the commission’s Minimum Capital Requirement Guidelines.
They also disputed a directive requiring existing insurance companies to transfer their entire recapitalisation funds into a CBN escrow account, arguing that Section 16(3) of NIIRA 2025 provides for a statutory deposit of only 10 per cent.
According to the Finance Ministry, NICON and Nigeria Re had injected N20 billion and N30 billion respectively into Mudaraba Term Deposit accounts with Lotus Bank, exceeding their adjusted capital requirements of N16 billion and N28 billion.
The companies also deposited N2.5 billion and N3.5 billion respectively with the CBN as statutory deposits and paid initial fees of N80 million and N75 million.
The ministry said the companies therefore considered themselves compliant with the July 31, 2026 recapitalisation deadline.
“Pending the determination of the petition, the Commission should suspend the enforcement of the contested processing fees, 1 per cent capital injection fee demands, and full-capital escrow transfer directives against NICON Insurance Limited and Nigeria Reinsurance Corporation,” the letter stated.
The ministry consequently asked NAICOM to explain the basis and legal justification for the disputed charges and escrow requirement.
The intervention comes amid the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen the capital base of insurance companies and reinsurers, improve their capacity to underwrite larger risks and enhance the sector’s contribution to economic development.
The dispute, however, has raised questions over the extent of NAICOM’s authority to impose additional fees and require existing insurers to place their entire recapitalisation funds in escrow.
The Finance Ministry’s letter did not disclose whether NAICOM had responded to the issues raised. It also referenced an alleged N500 million demand and an additional N180 million capitalisation charge in its subject, although the substantive section specifically put the disputed assessments at N305 million for NICON and N375 million for Nigeria Re.
For now, enforcement of the contested fees and full-capital escrow directive against the two state-owned insurers has been suspended pending NAICOM’s response and legal clarification.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Four price decliners overpowered the two price gainers recorded at the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange on Monday, August 10, weakening it by 0.32 per cent at the close of transactions.
The advancers were led by Food Concepts Plc, which chalked up 25 Kobo to sell at N2.75 per unit versus the previous price of N2.50 per unit, and Mass Telecoms Innovation Plc appreciated by 3 Kobo to 35 Kobo per share from 32 Kobo per share.
However, 11 Plc lost N24.75 to close at N222.75 per unit versus N247.50 per unit, FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc declined by N3.09 to N145.00 per share from N148.09 per share, Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) Plc went down by 5 Kobo to 50 Kobo per unit from 55 Kobo per unit, and Geo-Fluids Plc slid by 1 Kobo to N2.27 per share from N2.28 per share.
As a result, the market capitalisation contracted by N8.94 billion to N2.798 trillion from the previous session’s N2.807 trillion, and the NASD Security Index (NSI) retreated by 14.9 points to 4,663.18 points from 4,678.08 points.
The trading data showed that the volume of securities exchanged by investors rose by 108.9 per cent to 1.1 million units from 535,7560 units, and the value of securities jumped by 69.5 per cent to N10.2 million from N6.0 million, while the number of deals executed receded by 2.8 per cent to 35 deals from 36 deals.
Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Plc closed the trading session as the most traded stock by value on a year-to-date basis, with 3.4 billion units exchanged for N8.4 billion, followed by Infrastructure Credit Guarantee (Infracredit) Plc with 2.3 billion units valued at N6.5 billion, and Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc with 77.0 million units transacted for N5.5 billion.
GNI Plc also ended the day as the most traded stock by volume on a year-to-date basis, with 3.4 billion units worth N8.4 billion, followed by Infracredit Plc with 2.3 billion units sold for N6.5 billion, and Resourcery Plc with 1.1 billion units traded for N415.7 million.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Naira opened the week on a positive note, appreciating against the US Dollar by N5.55 or 0.41 per cent in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM) on Monday, August 10, to N1,360.14/$1 from N1,365.69/$1.
The domestic currency also improved its exchange rate against the Pound Sterling in the official market during the session by 67 Kobo to sell at N1,838.50/£1 compared with the preceding session’s N1,839.17/£1, and gained N4.64 against the Euro to quote at N1,571.09/€1, in contrast to last Friday’s N1,575.73/€1.
However, the Naira maintained stability against the Dollar in the black market and the GTBank forex counter on Monday at N1,400/$1 and N1,371/$1, respectively.
Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) showed that interbank FX turnover fell by 46 per cent yesterday to $213.845 million from the $393.477 million recorded at the close of trading on Friday.
The decline came despite a sharp increase in the volume of foreign exchange transactions executed during the session, indicating weaker participation by high-ticket FX customers and other major market participants.
The lower turnover suggests reduced demand for FX among large-scale buyers, even as market makers continued to facilitate transactions through the NAFEM window, with the number of FX traded rising to 182 from 102.
In the cryptocurrency market, traders and investors took profit as broader markets’ focus shifted to rising bond yields, higher oil prices and upcoming US inflation data.
Cardano (ADA) depreciated by 5.2 per cent to $0.1873, Ethereum (ETH) slipped by 2.6 per cent to $1,873.43, Ripple (XRP) slumped by 2.3 per cent to $1.01, Bitcoin (BTC) fell by 1.8 per cent to $63,949.22, Solana (SOL) crashed by 1.3 per cent to $75.81, and Binance Coin (BNB) tumbled by 0.6 per cent to $599.49.
But TRON (TRX) gained 0.5 per cent to trade at $0.3314, and Dogecoin (DOGE) grew by 0.2 per cent to $0.0700, while the US Dollar Tether (USDT) and the US Dollar Coin (USDC) traded flat at $1.00 apiece.
