Nigerian Exchange Returns to Red Zone, Equity Investors Lose N67bn

The Nigerian Exchange plunged back into the red zone on Thursday as equity investors incurred N67 billion in losses.

The downward trend was primarily attributed to widespread sell-offs observed across key sectors, including banking, insurance, and consumer goods.

The All-Share Index closed the trading session with a decline of 0.12 percent to settle at 101,239.10 index points while the market capitalization closed lower at N55.40 trillion.

Despite a brief respite earlier in the week, the market failed to sustain its positive momentum.

Year-to-date returns moderated to 35.39 percent, reflecting the volatile nature of recent trading sessions.

Trading activities remained subdued with a 16.43 percent decrease in traded volume to 252.9 million units.

Similarly, total traded value declined by 24.54 percent to N4.94 billion, accompanied by a 15.83 percent dip in total deals to 7,248.

Market breadth leaned towards negativity, with 22 gainers overshadowed by 28 losers.

The decliners included notable companies like Daar Communications, Wema Bank, and PZ Cussons, which collectively contributed to the bearish sentiment prevalent in the banking, insurance, and consumer goods sectors.