Stocks Rise Slightly in Nigeria’s Equities Market with Julius Berger and Livestock Feeds in the Spotlight

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.