Fixed Income Market Turnover Sees 30.47% Decline Despite Bond Activity

In June 2024, the FMDQ Securities Exchange reported a 30.47% decline in the fixed-income market turnover from the previous month.

Despite this downturn, bond trading showed resilience, particularly in the Other Bonds category, which saw a 60.51% increase.

The overall turnover for fixed income products, including FGN Bonds and T-Bills, fell to N7.72 trillion.

This decrease was attributed to lower trading volumes across all major categories, although bond activity remained a bright spot.

Trading intensity for FGN Bonds and T-Bills slightly decreased, reflecting reduced investor activity.

However, T-Bills with maturities between six months and a year, alongside FGN Bonds with terms between five and ten years, were the most traded, accounting for a significant portion of the market turnover.

The sovereign yield curve continued its inversion trend, with real yields staying negative due to inflation outpacing policy interest rates.

The money market also experienced a decline, with turnover dropping by 34.50% to N8.22 trillion. Repos and unsecured transactions were primarily responsible for this decrease.

Conversely, the FX derivatives market saw growth, rising by 43.20% due to increased FX swap activities, despite a downturn in FX forwards.

These fluctuations highlight the ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s financial markets, with inflation and currency depreciation posing significant hurdles.

The decline in turnover suggests cautious investor sentiment amidst an uncertain economic landscape.

Despite these challenges, certain segments like bond trading and FX derivatives continue to show potential, offering avenues for strategic investment and market stability.