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Market Gains N121bn Despite Losses by 14 Firms

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Nigerian Stock Exchange

The value of equities in the Nigerian Stock Exchange appreciated by N121bn on Thursday in a second-day gain after straight losses for 10 days. This feat was realised despite the fall in the share prices of 14 firms quoted on the Exchange.

Data at the end of trading showed a rise in market capitalisation from N8.025tn to N8.146tn and an appreciation in the NSE All-Share Index from 23,335.01 basis points to 23,686.67 basis points.

A total of 476.148 million shares worth N3.636bn exchanged hands in 5,398 deals, with 29 firms gaining on their share value.

The highest index point recorded in the trading session was 23,686.67 basis points, while the lowest and the average index points were 22,456.32 and 23,108.57 basis points, respectively.

FBN Holdings Plc, Union Bank Nigeria Plc, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Okomu Oil Palm Plc and 7UP Bottling Company Plc emerged top five gainers after the close of trading.

Other gainers were: Skye Bank Plc, Livestock Feeds Plc,Nestle Nigeria Plc, AIICO Insurance Plc, Nascon allied Industries Plc, UACN Plc, Portland Paints and Products Plc, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, N.E.M. Insurance Company Nigeria Plc, Eterna Plc, Cutix Plc, Airline service and Logistics Plc, May & Baker Nigeria Plc, Tiger Branded Consumer Goods Plc, and Diamond Bank Plc.

Unity Bank Plc, Learn Africa Plc, PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, Custodian and Allied Plc, and Dangote Cement Plc also emerged gainers.

FBN Holdings shares appreciated by N0.41 (10.25 per cent) to close at N4.41 from N4, while those of Union Bank gained N0.49 (9.94 per cent) to close at N5.42 from N4.93.

The share price of Nigerian Breweries closed at N105.50 from N97.60, gaining N7.90 (8.09 per cent).

Similarly, the shares of Okomu Oil Palm appreciated by N2.01 (7.18 per cent) to close at N30 from N27.99, while those of 7UP rose by N10.99 (6.78 per cent) to close at N172.99 from N162.

Honeywell Flour Mill Plc, Sterling Bank Plc, Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, Axamansard Insurance Plc, and Fidelity Bank Plc emerged the top five losers on Thursday.

Other losers on Thursday were: Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, Ashaka Cement Plc, Lafarge Africa Plc, Flour Mill Nigeria Plc, Africa Prudential Registrars Plc, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Berger Paints Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and Access Bank Plc.

Honeywell Flour Mill shares fell by N0.15 (9.2 per cent) to close at N1.48 from N1.63, while those of Sterling Bank lost N0.16 (8.99 per cent) to close at N1.62 from N1.78.

The share price of Vitafoam Nigeria Plc depreciated by N0.40 (8.03 per cent) to close at N4.58 from N4.98.

Axamansard Insurance shares fell to N2.28 from N2.40, losing N0.12 (five per cent), while Fidelity Bank shares recorded a loss of N0.06 (4.48 per cent) to close at N1.28 from N1.34.

In the second week of this month, some capital market experts in the country had expressed optimism about the performance of the market this year.

They said the current bearish trend in the market was temporary, as the market was expected to be slightly bullish later in the year.

Research analysts at Meristem Securities, in the company’s 2016 outlook, said, “Based on our mix of methodologies, we arrived at a forecast 2016 index level of 30,244 points, indicating a 5.59 per cent potential market return by December 31, 2016.

“Although predicted, the extended bearish mood in the stock market appeared to have unsettled investors as sell sentiments pervaded activities on the Nigerian bourse, with 31 stocks recording positive year-on-year returns, while 88 stocks diminished in value by 2015 year end.

“In line with this trend, the Nigerian Stock Exchange All-Share Index, which measures the performance of the bourse, pegged at 28,642.25 points, representing a 17.36 per cent decline from December 31, 2014.”

For 2015, they said the performance of the equities market was largely buoyed by weak corporate earnings occasioned by major economic headwinds, weak demand, rising insurgency and foreign exchange conundrum.

While the analyst expected some respite in 2016, they also anticipated that the trends in equities market would be extended to the early months of 2016.

Punch

Is the CEO/Founder of Investors King Limited. A proven foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Businessinsider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and many more. He has over two decades of experience in global financial markets.

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Crude Oil

Oil Prices Continue to Slide: Drops Over 1% Amid Surging U.S. Stockpiles

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Crude Oil

Amidst growing concerns over surging U.S. stockpiles and indications of static output policies from major oil-producing nations, oil prices declined for a second consecutive day by 1% on Wednesday.

Brent crude oil, against which the Nigerian oil price is measured, shed 97 cents or 1.12% to $85.28 per barrel.

Similarly, U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude slumped by 93 cents or a 1.14% fall to close at $80.69.

The recent downtrend in oil prices comes after they reached their highest level since October last week.

However, ongoing concerns regarding burgeoning U.S. crude inventories and uncertainties surrounding potential inaction by the OPEC+ group in their forthcoming technical meeting have exacerbated the downward momentum.

Market analysts attribute the decline to expectations of minimal adjustments to oil output policies by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, known collectively as OPEC+, until a full ministerial meeting scheduled for June.

In addition to concerns about excess supply, the market’s attention is also focused on the impending release of official government data on U.S. crude inventories, scheduled for Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. EDT (1430 GMT).

Analysts are keenly observing OPEC members for any signals of deviation from their production quotas, suggesting further volatility may lie ahead in the oil market.

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Energy

Nigeria Targets $5bn Investments in Oil and Gas Sector, Says Government

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Crude Oil - Investors King

Nigeria is setting its sights on attracting $5 billion worth of investments in its oil and gas sector, according to statements made by government officials during an oil and gas sector retreat in Abuja.

During the retreat organized by the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, explained the importance of ramping up crude oil production and creating an environment conducive to attracting investments.

He highlighted the need to work closely with agencies like the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to achieve these goals.

Lokpobiri acknowledged the challenges posed by issues such as insecurity and pipeline vandalism but expressed confidence in the government’s ability to tackle them effectively.

He stressed the necessity of a globally competitive regulatory framework to encourage investment in the sector.

The minister’s remarks were echoed by Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, who spoke at the 2024 Strategic Women in Energy, Oil, and Gas Leadership Summit.

Kyari stressed the critical role of energy in driving economic growth and development and explained that Nigeria still faces challenges in providing stable electricity to its citizens.

Kyari outlined NNPCL’s vision for the future, which includes increasing crude oil production, expanding refining capacity, and growing the company’s retail network.

He highlighted the importance of leveraging Nigeria’s vast gas resources and optimizing dividend payouts to shareholders.

Overall, the government’s commitment to attracting $5 billion in investments reflects its determination to revitalize the oil and gas sector and drive economic growth in Nigeria.

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Commodities

Palm Oil Rebounds on Upbeat Malaysian Exports Amid Indonesian Supply Concerns

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Palm Oil - Investors King

Palm oil prices rebounded from a two-day decline on reports that Malaysian exports will be robust this month despite concerns over potential supply disruptions from Indonesia, the world’s largest palm oil exporter.

The market saw a significant surge as Malaysian export figures for the current month painted a promising picture.

Senior trader David Ng from IcebergX Sdn. in Kuala Lumpur attributed the morning’s gains to Malaysia’s strong export performance, with shipments climbing by a notable 14% during March 1-25 compared to the previous month.

Increased demand from key regions like Africa, India, and the Middle East contributed to this impressive growth, as reported by Intertek Testing Services.

However, amidst this positivity, investors are closely monitoring developments in Indonesia. The Indonesian government’s contemplation of revising its domestic market obligation policy, potentially linking it to production rather than exports, has stirred market concerns.

Edy Priyono, a deputy at the presidential staff office in Jakarta, indicated that this proposed shift aims to mitigate vulnerability to fluctuations in export demand.

Yet, it could potentially constrain supply availability from Indonesia in the future to stabilize domestic prices.

This uncertainty surrounding Indonesian policies has added a layer of complexity to palm oil market dynamics, prompting investors to react cautiously despite Malaysia’s promising export performance.

The prospect of Indonesian supply disruptions underscores the delicacy of global palm oil supply chains and their susceptibility to geopolitical and regulatory factors.

As the market navigates these developments, stakeholders remain attentive to both export data from Malaysia and policy shifts in Indonesia, recognizing their significant impact on palm oil prices and market stability.

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