Equities market down by 0.13% WoW performance
By Kayode Tokede
The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index and market capitalization depreciated by 0.13 per cent on its Week-on-Week (WoW) performance to close the week at 38,866.39 basis points and N20.335 trillion respectively.
As a result, the equities market Year-Till-Date (YTD) loss rose to -3.7per cent.
Activity levels were weak, as trading volumes and value declined by 38.6per cent Wo and 51.7per cent WoW, respectively.
Notably, profit-taking in large-cap stocks; Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (-3.5per cent), Lafarge Wapco (-3.0 per cent), BUA Cement (-1.0per cent), and Zenith Bank plc (-0.7 per cent) drove the weekly loss.
Sectoral performance was broadly negative, as the Consumer Goods (+1.1per cent) index emerged as the week’s sole gainer.
The Banking (-2.5 per cent) index led the losers’ chart, followed by Insurance (-1.5 per cent), Industrial Goods (-0.7 per cent), and Oil and Gas (-0.3 per cent) indices.
Other indices finished lower with the exception of NSE Premium, NSE MERI Growth, NSE Lotus II and NSE Growth Index which appreciated by 0.62 per cent, 0.28 per cent, 1.11 per cent and 0.62 per cent while the NSE ASeM Index closed flat.
According to NSE weekly report, “In all, 17 equities appreciated in price during the week, lower than 42 in the previous week, even as 40 equities depreciated in price higher than 22 in the previous week, while 105 remained unchanged, higher than 98 equities recorded in the previous week.
It was a four-day trading week as the Federal Government of Nigeria declared Monday 5th April 2021 (Easter Monday) as Public Holiday in commemoration of the Easter Monday.”
Meanwhile, a total turnover of 887.037 million shares worth N9.193 billion in 17,837 deals were traded this week by investors on the floor of the Exchange, in contrast to a total of 1.445 billion shares valued at N19.039 billion that exchanged hands last week in 17,400 deals.
The Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 607.224 million shares valued at N6.066 billion traded in 10,125 deals; thus contributing 68.46% and 65.99% to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.
The Conglomerates Industry followed with 112.318 million shares worth N572.831 million in 1,450 deals. The third place was Oil and Gas Industry, with a turnover of 57.662 million shares worth N201.453 million in 1,107 deals.
Trading in the top three equities namely Zenith Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (measured by volume) accounted for 259.248 million shares worth N4.818 billion in 4,970 deals, contributing 29.23% and 52.41% to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.
A total of 361,254 units of ETPs valued at N1.909 billion were traded this week in 29 deals compared with a total of 108,271 units valued at N445.285 million transacted last week in 16 deals.
A total of 44,303 units of Bonds valued at N55.333 million were traded this week in 13 deals compared with a total of 50,358 units valued at N55.298 million transacted last week in 14 deals.
According to analysts at Cordros capital, “Taking a cue from the trading pattern that ensued this week, we expect market activities to be quiet in the short term as investors keep their gaze on yields direction in the FI market.
“Considering that the FY 2020 earnings season is gradually coming to a halt, we now expect investors’ sentiment to be influenced by developments in the macroeconomic landscape and corporate actions.
“Notwithstanding, we advise investors to take positions in only fundamentally justified stocks as the unimpressive macro story remains a significant headwind for corporate earnings.”
