Buying interest drives positive performance at Nigerian Stock Exchange as ASI up 0.8%

Today, the local bourse posted a bullish performance as the benchmark index rose 78bps to 41,014.30 points on account of buying interest in DANGCEM (+7.0%), MTNN (+1.6%), and UNILEVER (+2.6%). Consequently, the YTD return increased to 1.8% while market capitalisation inched higher by ₦166.5bn to settle at ₦21.5tn. Activity level improved as volume and value traded rose 247.4% and 16.7% respectively to 1.3bn units and ₦6.4bn. The most traded stocks by volume were TRANSCORP (55.7m units), FBNH (51.9m units) and UBA (48.8m units) while MTNN (₦1.6bn), ZENITH (₦885.3m) and GUARANTY (₦579.7m) led by value.

Performance across sectors was bearish as 4 of 6 indices under our coverage declined. The Banking and Insurance indices lost 3.0% and 2.9% respectively due to sell-offs in GUARANTY (-5.1%), UBN (-8.9%), AIICO (-9.0%) and MANSARD (-3.1%). Similarly, the Oil & Gas and Consumer Goods indices fell 0.9% and 0.3% respectively following sell pressures in OANDO (-6.7%), ARDOVA (-7.5%), INTBREW (-2.3%) and CHAMPION (-8.9%). Conversely, the Industrial Goods and AFR-ICT indices rose 2.6% and 0.8% respectively on account of buying interest in DANGCEM (+7.0%) and MTNN (+1.6%).

Investor sentiment as measured by market breadth (advance/decline ratio) weakened to 0.2x from the 0.4x recorded previously as 7 stocks gained against 45 losers. DANGCEM (+7.0%), MBENEFIT (+5.4%) and SOVRENINS (+3.7%) were the top gainers while LINKASSURE (-10.0%), LIVESTOCK (-10.0%) and NAHCO (-10.0%) were the top losers. For the week, we expect the equities market to close in the red.

Market Statistics for Thursday, 11th February 2021