Total transactions in stock market increase by 22.5%

• As index depreciates by 3.4% in four trading days

Domestic and Foreign Portfolio Report of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) showed that the total transactions in the domestic equities market increased by 22.5 per cent month-on-month (M/M) to N123.97 billion in August from NGN101.18 billion recorded in the corresponding period in July 2022.

The figure is significantly below the average monthly gross transactions of N235.88 billion achieved so far in 2022.

The drop may, however, be attributed to the impact of higher yields in the fixed-income market, lingering Foreign exchange (FX) liquidity constraints, and lack of flexibility in the FX framework.

Consequently, domestic investors had remained the net sellers of equities since the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) started increasing the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) in July.

Analysts at Codros said: “In the short to medium term, we expect domestic investors to continue to dominate market performance, although rising fixed income yields may constrain buying activities.

“Also, FPIs who have exhibited a lacklustre interest in domestic equities are likely to remain on the sidelines due to sustained FX liquidity challenges and interest rate hikes by central banks in developed countries.”

Meanwhile at the closed of transactions last week, Nigerian Exchange Limited ( NGX) All-Share Index depreciated by 3.4 per cent to close the week at 47,351.43 while market capitalisation depreciated by 2.5 per cent to close at N25.79 trillion.

Similarly, all other indices finished lower except the NGX ASeM, NGX Growth and NGX Sovereign Bond indices which closed flat.

The stock market opened for four trading days last week as the Federal Government declared Monday, October 3, 2022, a holiday to mark the independence anniversary.

A turnover of 586.9 million shares worth N8.8 billion was recorded in 17,183 deals by investors on the floor of the NGX, in contrast to a total of 1 billion units, valued at N10.4 billion that was exchanged in 17,844 deals during the preceding week.

The financial services industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 393.8 million shares valued at N4.6 billion traded in 9,168 deals; thus contributing 67.1 per cent to the total equity turnover volume.

The ICT industry followed with 48.2 million shares worth N1.2 billion in 1,294 deals. The conglomerate industry ranked third with a turnover of 40.1 million shares worth N44.4 million in 513 deals.

Trading in the top three equities namely Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, Sterling Bank Plc and Zenith Bank Plc. (measured by volume) accounted for 239.63 million shares worth N3.546 billion in 4,375 deals, contributing 40.8 per cent to the total equity turnover volume

A total of 1,667 units of Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) valued at N264,986.25 were traded this week in 19 deals compared to a total of 5,937 units valued at N21.716 million transacted last week in 18 deals.

Also, 4,649 units of bonds, valued at N4.8 million were traded in 16 deals compared to a total of 35,327 units valued at N35.8 million transacted last week in 21 deals.

On the price movement chart, 11equities appreciated during the week, lower than 25 equities in the previous week. 46 equities depreciated more than 33 in the previous week, while 100 equities remained unchanged.