Markets

Stock Market Plummets as Optimism Wanes

Published

7 years ago

February 22, 2016

After rallying for five day the previous week following investors drive to build position ahead of probable positive earnings release by listed companies, the Nigerian equities market closed in the red last week as optimism waned, forcing anxious investors to book profit.

The equities market had closed positive the previous week with a 5.05 per cent gain after a five-day rally which strengthened benchmark indicator by 1,187.92 points. Both the NSE-ASI and market capitalisation closed higher ending the week at 24,689.69pt and N8.491trillion respectively. Market sentiment was positive with renewed active bargain tendency displayed toward large and medium cap stock in anticipation of positive earnings release and likelihood of dividend announcement.

However, the market was volatile in most of the trading days last week as supply outstripped demand while most investors maintained cautious approach.

At the close of trades, the Nigerian Stock Exchange All-Share Index (ASI) and market capitalisation depreciated by 1.04 per cent to close the week at 24,432.51 and N8.403 trillion respectively.

Similarly, all other Indices finished lower during the week, with the exception of the NSE Main Board Index, NSE Banking Index, NSE Consumer Goods Index and NSE Oil and Gas and that appreciated by 0.95 per cent, 0.04 per cent, 0.21 per cent and 3.30 per cent respectively, while the NSE ASeM index closed flat.

Meanwhile, analysts at InvestmentOne Limited have said that the market will remain volatile and enjoined investors to tread cautiously and take position in quality name ahead of earning season.

“With the market breadth index closing negative, we expect market to be volatile in the coming session. Hence, we reiterate our earlier stance for position-building in quality name for a medium to long term horizon,” they stated.

Daily Performance Analysis

Trading on the Exchange had commenced on a positive note last Monday gaining 0.56 per cent corresponding to a N47 billion increase in market capitalisation to N8.54 trillion. The session looked likely to close in the red but a late rally saw the index rise from 24,381.47, during intraday, to close at 24,827.50.

There were 13 stocks that appreciated on the day against 25 losers. The session was driven by a late rally in Dangote Cement Plc (3.75 per cent) in addition to Seplat Plc (3.65 per cent) and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (0.73 per cent). These performances offset the declines in Nestle Nigeria Plc (3.60 per cent), Zenith Bank Plc (4.92 per cent) and FBN Holdings Plc (4.07 per cent). Consequently, the Industrial and Oil and Gas sectors rose by 2.00 per cent and 0.62 per cent respectively, while the Consumer Goods and the Banking sectors shed 1.37 per cent and 0.97 per cent respectively.

The market depreciated Tuesday after trending upwards for six days. The NSE ASI decreased by 1.26 per cent to close at 24,514.91. The depreciation recorded in the share prices of Dangote Cement Plc, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Zenith Bank Plc and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, were mainly responsible for the loss recorded in the index. Similarly, the market capitalisation depreciated by 1.26 per cent to close at N8.43 trillion, compared with the appreciation of 0.56 per cent recorded the prior day to close at N8.54 trillion.

The market declined further on Wednesday with the NSE ASI decreasing by 1.87 per cent to close at 24,056.12. Similarly, the market capitalisation depreciated by 1.87 per cent to close at N8.27 trillion. The depreciation recorded in the share prices of Dangote Cement Plc, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Unilever Nigeria Plc and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc caused the loss recorded in the index.
However, despite the low market activity witnessed on Thursday, the NSE ASI rebounded appreciating by 0.85 per cent to close at 24,261.69.

The appreciation resulted from rise recorded in the share prices of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, FBN Holdings Plc and Seplat Plc. Similarly, the market capitalisation appreciated by 0.85 per cent to close at N8.34 trillion, compared with the depreciation of 1.87 per cent recorded the previous day to close at N8.27 trillion. The total value of stocks traded on the floors of the NSE on the day was N959.77 million, down by 50.84 per cent from N1.95 billion traded the previous day.

The market closed positive for the second consecutive day last Friday. It rose 0.70 per cent or 170.82 points to 24,432.51 points. This represented a N58 billion increase in market capitalization to N8.40 trillion. The positive outcome was driven by gains in Nestle Nigeria Plc (7.69 per cent), Nigerian Breweries Plc (0.69 per cent), Seplat Plc (5.00 per cent) and some banking stocks: Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, (1.02 per cent) and Zenith Bank Plc (0.97 per cent) offsetting the loss in FBN Holdings Plc (3.56 per cent), ETI Plc (0.95 per cent) and Diamond Bank Plc (6.63 per cent).

In addition, there were improvements in investor sentiment as Nestle Nigeria Plc led the 22 stocks that gained compared to Portland Paints Plc (9.43 per cent), which was the biggest loser of the 16 stocks that declined. Industrial was the only sector to end the day in the red, shedding 0.02 per cent while Consumer Goods climbed 2.36 per cent. The Oil and Gas and Banking sectors finished the session up 1.09 per cent and 0.32 per cent respectively. Market activity was mixed last Friday with total volume increasing by 45 per cent while total value dropped 4 per cent as 172 million units of shares worth N925 million were exchanged.

Market Turnover

Meanwhile, investors traded 1.202 billion shares worth N9.641 billion in 13,712 deals were traded last week in contrast to a total of 1.407 billion shares valued at N17.277 billion that exchanged hands the previous week in 14,914 deals.

The Financial Services Industry led the activity chart with 1.005 billion shares valued at N6.471 billion traded in 8,313 deals; thus contributing 83.66 per cent and 67.12 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

The Consumer Goods Industry followed with 54.333 million shares worth N2.114 billion in 2,365 deals. The third place was occupied by the Conglomerates Industry with a turnover of 45.977 million shares worth N184.205 million in 518 deals.

Trading in the top three equities namely – Zenith International Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and United Bank for Africa Plc, accounted for 500.360 million shares worth N5.449 billion in 4,011 deals, contributing 41.63 per cent and 56.52 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

Also traded during the week were a total of 93,518 units of Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) valued at N1.158 million executed in 48 deals, compared with a total of 115,641 units valued at N1.285 million transacted the previous week in 28 deals.

A total of 150,000 units of Federal Government Bonds valued at N169.326 million were traded in 2 deals compared to a total of 39,340 units of both State (1) and Federal Government Bonds (2) valued at N44.246 million transacted the previous week in 3 deals.

Gainers and Losers

In terms of price movement, a total of 22 equities appreciated in price during the week, lower than 26 equities of the previous week. Thirty-seven equities depreciated in price, higher than 30 equities of the previous week, while 131 equities remained unchanged, lower than 134 equities recorded in the previous week.

The top 10 gainers were: Seplat Plc (N50.37), Glaxo Smithkline Plc (N3.28), Ecobank Transnational Plc (85 kobo), NAHCO Plc (49 kobo), May & Baker Plc (14 kobo), NPF Micro Finance Bank Plc ( nine kobo) Tiger Branded Consumer Plc (six kobo), UAC Nigeria (97 kobo), Airline Services and Logistics (10 kobo) and Cutix (seven kobo).

On the other hand, the top 10 losers included: NNFM Plc (70 kobo), Portland Paint Plc (38 kobo), Oando Plc (30 kobo), Caverton Plc (17 kobo), Diamond Bank (13 kobo) Honeywell Flour Plc (12 kobo), Learn Africa Plc ( nine kobo), Unity Bank Plc, Continental Reinsurance Plc (eight kobo apiece ), and Neimeth Plc (six kobo).

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Samed Olukoya

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

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Crude Oil

Global Oil Prices Appreciate to $77.85 After Saudi Announces Plan to Cut Production

Global oil prices appreciated on Monday morning following Saudi Arabia’s announcement that it will cut crude oil production by 1 million barrels per day (bpd) from the month of July to curb global economic headwinds weighing on the market.

Published

3 hours ago

June 5, 2023

Samed Olukoya

Brent crude oil, against which Nigerian oil is priced, rose by $1.72, or 2.3%, to $77.85 a barrel by 10:48 am Nigerian time while the U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude also climbed by $1.72, or 2.4%, to $73.46.

Both crude oils gained more than 2% on Friday after the Saudi energy ministry announced that the top exporter would reduce output from 10 million bpd in July to 9 million bpd in May 2024. The biggest of such reduction in years.

The voluntary cut is on top of a broader deal by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies including Russia to limit supply into 2024 as the OPEC+ producer group seeks to boost flagging oil prices.

OPEC+ pumps about 40% of the world’s crude and has cut its output target by a total of 3.66 million bpd, amounting to 3.6% of global demand.

“Saudi remains keener than most other members in terms of ensuring oil prices above $80 per barrel, which is essential for balancing its own fiscal budget for the year,” said Suvro Sarkar, leader of the energy sector team at DBS Bank.

“Saudi will probably continue doing whatever it takes to keep oil prices elevated … and take calculated pre-emptive steps to ensure the macro concerns potentially affecting demand are negated.”

Consultancy Rystad Energy said the additional Saudi cut is likely to deepen the market deficit to more than 3 million bpd in July, which could push prices higher in the coming weeks.

Goldman Sachs analysts said the meeting was “moderately bullish” for oil markets and could boost December 2023 Brent prices by between $1 and $6 a barrel depending on how long Saudi Arabia maintains output at 9 million bpd over the next six months.

“The immediate market impact of this Saudi cut is likely lower, as drawing inventories takes time, and the market likely already put some meaningful probability on a cut today,” the bank’s analysts added.

Many of the OPEC+ reductions will have little real impact, however, as the lower targets for Russia, Nigeria and Angola bring them into line with their actual production levels.

In contrast, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was allowed to raise output targets by 200,000 bpd to 3.22 million bpd to reflect its larger production capacity.

Crude Oil

Global Oil Prices Surge as US Lawmakers Suspend Debt Ceiling

Global oil prices appreciated on Friday after the United States lawmakers voted to have the country’s debt ceiling suspended for the next two years.

Published

3 days ago

June 2, 2023

Samed Olukoya

Global oil prices appreciated on Friday after the United States lawmakers voted to have the country’s debt ceiling suspended for the next two years. On the final vote, 149 Republicans and 165 Democrats backed the measure, while 71 Republicans and 46 Democrats opposed it.

Brent crude oil, against which Nigerian oil is priced, rose by 77 cents, or 1% to $75.05 a barrel by 9 am while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) was up 69 cents, or 1%, at $70.79.

Markets were reassured by a bipartisan deal to suspend the limit on the U.S. government’s $31.4 billion debt ceiling, which staved off a sovereign default that would have rocked global financial markets.

Earlier signals of a potential pause in rate hikes by the Federal Reserve also provided support to oil prices, not least by weighing on the U.S. dollar , making oil cheaper for holders of other currencies.

Investor attention is now fixed on the June 4 meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia, collectively called OPEC+.

OPEC+ in April announced a surprise cut of 1.16 million barrels per day in April, but the gains from that move have since been retraced and prices are below pre-cut levels.

But signals on any fresh cut have been varied, with Reuters reporting and bank analysts indicating that further output cuts are unlikely.

On the demand side, the U.S. Institute for Supply Management (ISM) said its manufacturing PMI fell to 46.9 last month, the seventh-straight month that the PMI stayed below 50, indicating a contraction in activity.

Manufacturing data out of China painted a mixed picture. Thursday’s better-than-expected Caixin/S&P Global China manufacturing PMI contrasted with the previous day’s official government data that reported factory activity in May had contracted to the lowest level in five months.

Crude Oil

Weak Chinese Data Weighs on Oil Prices Today

Oil prices declined by 2% on Wednesday as weak Chinese data and a stronger United States dollar dragged on commodity prices.

Published

5 days ago

May 31, 2023

Samed Olukoya

Oil prices declined by 2% on Wednesday as weak Chinese data and a stronger United States dollar dragged on commodity prices.

Brent crude oil, against which Nigerian oil is priced, dipped by $1.75, or 2.37%, to $71.96 a barrel at 3:46 pm while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) shed $1.90, or 2.74%, to $67.56.

The decline in prices was caused by weak Chinese manufacturing activity. The data released by the Chinese government showed that activity in the sector contracted faster than expected in May with the official manufacturing purchasing managers’ index declining from 49.2 posted in April to 48.8 in May, below the 49.4 predicted by economists.

Also, the strong U.S. dollar is another factor impacting the purchase of crude oil as buyers holding foreign currencies found it too expensive.

The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback against six major peers, saw support from cooling European inflation and progress on the U.S. debt ceiling standoff, which will advance to the House of Representatives for debate on Wednesday.

Market players are preparing for the upcoming June 4 meeting of OPEC+ – the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia.

Mixed signals by major OPEC+ producers on whether or not the group will decide to further cut oil production have sparked recent volatility in oil prices.

Despite the latest pullback in prices, HSBC and analysts do not expect OPEC+ to announce further cuts in the upcoming meeting.

HSBC said on Wednesday that stronger oil demand from China and the West from the summer onwards will bring about a supply deficit in the second half of the year.