…The Naira appreciated by 0.24% to close at ₦1,380.58
The domestic equities market closed lower at the end of the week, as the All-Share Index slipped by 2 basis points to settle at 200,913.06 points, capping a week of mixed trading momentum. Despite a rally in Oil & Gas counters, losses in select heavyweight stocks tempered gains and kept the market in negative territory.
The session ended bearish on accout of losses in CADBURY, ETERNA, CWG, NB, STANBIC, DANGSUGAR, FIRSTHOLDCO, TRANSCORP, MTNN, UBA, ZENITHBANK and 25 other laggards.
Consequently, the year to date return moderated to 29.11%, as market capitalization depreciated by 0.02% to ₦129.00 trillion, representing a ₦28.78 billion loss of investors’ funds.
Sectoral performance closed mixed. The Oil & Gas Index led the advancers, rising by 1.78%, buoyed by strong gains in ARADEL. Similarly, the Insurance Index advanced by 0.31%, supported by price appreciation in SUNUASSUR, GUINEAINS, and LINKASSURE. On the downside, the Consumer Goods Index declined by 0.94%, pressured by selloffs in CADBURY, INTBREW, NB, DANGSUGAR, and PZ. While the Banking index was weighed down FCMB, FIRSTHOLDCO, STANBIC, UBA and ZENITHBANK. Meanwhile, the Industrial Goods Index closed unchanged.
MARKET ACTIVITY: Market activity was negative, with traded volume and value depreciating by 12.24% and 26.17% to 595.15 million units and ₦24.47 billion, respectively.
MARKET BREADTH: The market breadth, which measures investor sentiment through the Gainers/Losers ratio, increased to 0.92x from 0.83x as 33 stocks appreciated, 36 stocks depreciated, and 64 stocks closed flat.
FIXED INCOME MARKET: The average yield of the Treasury Bills market closed slightly bullish at 17.63%, while the Bonds market closed flat at 15.59%.
CURRENCY MARKET: The Naira appreciated by 0.24% to close at ₦1,380
