Nigeria’s Market Falls 1.09% Amid Decline in Key Sectors

Nigeria’s stock market closed the trading week ended Friday, April 12, with a decline of 1.09% following a downturn influenced by notable drops in the banking, insurance, and consumer goods sectors.

This shift resulted in a loss of about N638 billion for investors during the two-day trading week, which was shortened due to public holidays for Eid Mubarak.

The Nigerian Exchange Limited’s (NGX) All-Share Index (ASI) decreased from an opening high of 103,437.67 points to 102,314.56 points.

Meanwhile, market capitalization also dropped from N58.498 trillion to N57.860 trillion over the review period.

The market’s month-to-date (MtD) performance fell by 2.15%, and the year-to-date (YtD) return is now at 36.83%.

Futureview research analysts had previously forecasted a mixed performance in the equities market as investors adjusted their positions in anticipation of upcoming corporate actions and dividend payouts.

The analysts also predicted a possible shift in focus towards the fixed income market, which could influence short-term investment decisions.

While the market faced challenges this week, analysts expect a resurgence of buying interest driven by upcoming corporate actions and earnings reports, attracting investors looking to benefit from dividend payments.

Their recommendation to investors is to consider investing in high-quality stocks with strong fundamentals for potential returns.