DANGCEM, ETI, Fidelity drag Nigerian Equities Market as investors lost N118.4bn

At the close of trade, the local bourse posted a negative performance due to sell-offs in DANGCEM, ETI, and FIDELITY. Consequently, the All-Share Index fell 57bps to 39,267.11 points, YTD loss worsened to -2.5% and investors lost ₦118.4bn as market capitalisation decreased to ₦20.5tn. Trading activity waned as volume and value declined 35.6% and 69.3% respectively to 336.1m units and ₦3.3bn. The most traded stocks by volume were UBN (78.9m units), COURTVILLE (43.9m units), and GUARANTY (29.0m units) while GUARANTY (₦955.1m), ZENITH (₦560.5m), and UBN (₦418.1m) led by value.

Across sectors that we cover, performance was mixed as 2 indicators gained, 2 lost and 2 closed flat. The Banking and Consumer Goods indices rose 0.9% and 0.1% respectively due to price appreciation in ZENITH (+2.5%), UBA (+4.4%), DANGSUGAR (+0.6%), and GUINNESS (+1.4%). Conversely, the Industrial Goods and Insurance indices fell 1.9% and 0.2% respectively on account of sells-offs in DANGCEM (-4.0%), AIICO (-4.0%) and PRESTIGE (-8.9%). Finally, the Oil & Gas and AFR-ICT indices closed flat for the day.

Investor sentiment, as measured by market breadth (advance/decline ratio), weakened to 1.7x from the 2.3x recorded previously as 22 stocks gained against 13 decliners. LIVESTOCK (+9.7%), CORNEST (+9.1%) and COURVILLE (+9.1%) were the top gainers while REGALINS (-9.1%), PRESTIGE (-8.9%) and DAARCOMM (-8.0%) were the top decliners. In subsequent trading sessions, we anticipate a mix of buying interest and profit-taking in the equities market.

Market Statistics for Tuesday, 30th March 2021