The Nigerian equities market declined on Wednesday, shedding N68 billion in value following an increase in interest rate to 26.75%.

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the CBN raised the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) from 26.25% to 26.75% on Tuesday.

This move is part of ongoing efforts to curb inflation but has made equities less appealing compared to fixed-income securities.

The Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) saw its All-Share Index fall to 100,365.17 points from a previous high of 100,486.12.

Market capitalization also dipped to N56.830 trillion. Investors exchanged 497,842,944 shares valued at N8.605 billion in 8,412 deals.

Banking and consumer goods stocks were hit hardest, with significant sell-offs observed. Conversely, insurance and industrial stocks saw some buying activity, indicating a shift in investor preferences amid the changing economic landscape.

The CBN’s decision to increase rates is part of broader measures to tighten monetary policy and rein in rising inflation.

However, this has placed additional pressure on the equities market, which is now grappling with reduced investor sentiment.

United Capital research analysts highlighted that Nigeria continues to face negative real returns, deterring investments in the financial markets.

They anticipate higher yields in the fixed-income sector, which could further influence investor behavior.

Despite the current market pressures, analysts suggest that the upcoming second quarter (Q2) 2024 earnings season might provide some positive momentum.

Investors are keenly watching for potential gains that could arise from corporate performances.

The market’s year-to-date return has decreased to 34.22%, reflecting the broader economic challenges and investor caution.

While this week’s decline stands at 0.17%, the monthly performance has shown a slight increase of 0.31%.

Nigeria’s equities gained modestly at the start of the week as investor enthusiasm pushed stock prices slightly higher.

The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NGX) All-Share Index climbed by 0.03% or N16 billion, buoyed by notable gains in shares of key companies including Julius Berger, Livestock Feeds, and Neimeth.

Julius Berger saw the most significant increase, with its share price rising from N87.50 to N92.50, a gain of N5 or 5.71%.

This surge reflects growing investor confidence in the construction sector, despite broader market uncertainties.

Livestock Feeds also performed strongly, with its stock price climbing from N2.20 to N2.38, marking an 8.18% increase.

Neimeth Pharmaceuticals followed suit, with its shares rallying from N1.74 to N1.88, up by 8.05%.

Market analysts attribute the market’s cautious optimism to a combination of factors, including upcoming corporate earnings releases and potential dividend declarations.

Futureview Research noted that while the market showed a positive trajectory, investor sentiment might be tempered by increased regulatory scrutiny on banking stocks and anticipation of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting.

“We expect a mixed market close this week,” said Futureview Research in their July 22 note. “Cautious trading in banking stocks is anticipated amid increased regulatory oversight, while investor focus is likely to shift towards the bond Primary Market Auction (PMA). This could dampen overall market sentiment.”

Despite the modest gains, analysts are cautious about the short-term outlook. Meristem analysts highlighted that while some stocks have shown positive movement, the broader market could face challenges.

“We anticipate increased activity in equities this week, driven by buying interest in fundamentally strong stocks. However, uncertainty surrounding the MPC’s decisions and potential impacts from the bond and T-bills auction could influence market dynamics,” they noted.

The NGX All-Share Index rose from the previous day’s 100,539.40 points to 100,568.63 points, while the market capitalization increased from N56.929 trillion to N56.945 trillion.

In a total of 8,760 transactions, investors exchanged 335,704,787 shares valued at N3.717 billion.

Trading activity also highlighted the popularity of stocks such as Ellah Lakes, Universal Insurance, United Capital, Veritas Kapital Assurance, and FCMB Group. These stocks saw active trading as investors navigated the market’s current landscape.

As the week progresses, all eyes will be on the MPC meeting, where key decisions regarding interest rates and monetary policy will be announced.

The outcome is expected to play a significant role in shaping investor sentiment and market direction in the coming weeks.

The Nigerian equity rebounded last week as investors pocketed a N512 billion gain on the back of the surge in trading activity.

This surge reflects an active trading environment and positive investor sentiment despite some sectoral declines.

The market capitalization of the Nigerian Exchange Limited rose by 0.87 percent to N56.929 trillion, while the All-Share Index (ASI) climbed 0.86 percent to close at 100,539.40 points.

The rise was driven by a notable increase in the prices of 37 stocks, outpacing the 34 stocks that experienced a price decline over the same period.

In total, investors traded 2.827 billion shares valued at N42.366 billion across 44,277 deals. This marks a slight increase from the previous week’s turnover of 2.765 billion shares worth N85.230 billion in 40,796 deals, indicating a vibrant trading environment.

The Financial Services Industry led the trading volume, contributing 77.08 percent to the overall stock turnover volume and 72.38 percent to the value.

Within this sector, Jaiz Bank Plc, Cutix Plc, and First City Monument Bank Group emerged as the top three equities by volume, accounting for 1.140 billion shares valued at N4.632 billion.

This strong performance underscores the sector’s pivotal role in the market’s recent gains.

The Industrial Goods Industry followed, with 246.921 million shares worth N2.039 billion traded in 2,068 deals, while the Oil and Gas Industry recorded a turnover of 107.218 million shares worth N1.704 billion across 3,128 transactions.

Despite the overall positive performance, several indices saw declines.

The Banking, Insurance, Consumer Goods, Oil and Gas, and NGX Sovereign Bond indices depreciated by 0.05 percent, 4.86 percent, 0.20 percent, 0.10 percent, and 4.35 percent, respectively.

Looking ahead, analysts suggest that the market may face a mildly negative close next week, influenced by cautious trading, especially in the banking sector, amid increased scrutiny.

Also, the Nigerian Stock Exchange has recently delisted the shares of Niger Insurance Plc, Resort Savings and Loans Plc, and RAK Unity Petroleum Plc effective July 18, 2024.

This action, in accordance with Clause 15 of the General Undertaking of the Exchange’s Rule Book, follows the companies’ failure to meet listing standards and reflects a broader effort to ensure market integrity.

Overall, last week’s performance highlights the Nigerian stock market’s resilience and growing investor confidence, even as it navigates sectoral challenges and regulatory changes.