FBN Holdings, Vitafoam, Berger Paints Lead Market Decline, Nigerian Equities Lose N168 Billion

The Nigerian equities market closed in the red on Wednesday as FBN Holdings, Vitafoam, and Berger Paints led the market downturn.

Nigerian equities suffered a combined loss of N168 billion, the third consecutive day of decline and contributing to a week-to-date drop of 0.79%.

Investor sentiment remained subdued, with profit-seeking activities driving a dearth of buy-side triggers.

As a result, the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) All-Share Index (ASI) and equities market capitalization slid from the previous trading day’s highs, with the ASI falling to 104,256.81 points and market capitalization dipping to N58.947 trillion.

Leading the downward spiral, shares of FBN Holdings bore the brunt, plummeting by 9.90% as its share price tumbled from N43.95 to N39.60.

Vitafoam and Berger Paints followed suit, with their share prices dropping by 9.88% and 9.80%, respectively.

Despite the market’s negative trajectory, some stocks managed to buck the trend. CWG, NEM Insurance, and Juli emerged as the major gainers, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the prevailing bearish sentiment.

CWG witnessed a significant increase from N5.50 to N6.05, marking a 10% surge, while NEM Insurance and Juli saw their share prices rise by 10% and 9.98%, respectively.

Analysts suggest that the ongoing anticipation of full-year 2023 financial results from banks continues to influence market sentiment, shaping investors’ outlook for the remainder of the month.

However, with the market’s positive return year-to-date dropping to 39.43%, uncertainties persist regarding the near-term trajectory of Nigerian equities.