Connect with us

Stock Market

Tinubu signs Investments, Securities Act 2024 into law

Published

on

President Bola Tinubu has assented to the Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2024, which repeals the Investments and Securities Act No. 29 of 2007. The landmark legislation strengthens the legal framework of the Nigerian capital market, enhances investor protection and introduces critical reforms to promote market integrity, transparency and sustainable growth. This is according to a statement by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Saturday. The enactment of the ISA 2024 reaffirms the authority of the SEC as the apex regulatory authority of the Nigerian Capital Market. The new Act also introduces transformative provisions to further align Nigeria’s market operations with international best practice. The statement read in part, “The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is pleased to announce that President Bola Tinubu has assented to the Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2024, which repeals the Investments and Securities Act No. 29 of 2007.”
 Commenting on the development, Director-General of the SEC, Dr Emomotimi Agama, lauded the President’s assent as a transformative step for the capital market. Mr Agama said, “The ISA 2024 reflects our commitment to building a dynamic, inclusive and resilient capital market. By addressing regulatory gaps and introducing forward-looking provisions, the new Act empowers the SEC to foster innovation, protect investors more efficiently and reposition Nigeria as a competitive destination for local and foreign investments. We commend stakeholders within and outside the capital market community for their unwavering solidarity towards the achievement of this historic milestone. “We solicit their continued collaboration in respect of the effective implementation of the ISA 2024 for the benefit of our economy. SEC extends its profound appreciation to the National Assembly for its patriotism and dedication in enacting this new legal framework for the Nigerian capital market.” Mr Agama noted that the meticulous deliberations, extensive stakeholder engagements and bi-partisan support demonstrated throughout the legislative process highlighted the National Assembly’s resolve to foster economic growth and enhance investor confidence. He said, “We also commend the honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy of Nigeria as well as the Minister of State for Finance for their invaluable contributions to the realisation of this groundbreaking project. Their strategic guidance, policy expertise and steadfast support have ensured that the ISA 2024 aligns with Nigeria’s broader economic objectives. The SEC would continue to engage with market operators, investors, and all stakeholders to ensure a seamless transition from the repealed ISA 2007 to the new legal regime established under the ISA 2024.”
 The Act enhances the regulatory powers of the SEC in a manner comparable with benchmark global securities regulators. These enhanced powers and functions ensure full conformity with the requirements of IOSCO’s Enhanced Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding (EMMoU), enabling the SEC to retain its “Signatory A” status and enhancing the overall attractiveness of the Nigerian capital market. Other notable provisions of the ISA 2024 include classification of Exchanges and inclusion of provisions on Financial Market Infrastructures The Act classifies securities exchanges into composite and non-composite exchanges.  A composite exchange is one in which all categories of securities and products can be listed and traded, while a non-composite exchange focuses on a singular type of security or product. There are also new provisions on financial market infrastructures such as central counterparties, clearing houses and trade depositories. The Act explicitly recognises virtual/digital assets and investment contracts as securities and brings Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs), Digital Asset Operators (DAOPs) and Digital Asset Exchanges under the SEC’s regulatory requirements. It introduces provisions that exempt transactions facilitated through or otherwise involving Financial Market Infrastructures from the application of general insolvency laws. The Act introduces provisions for the monitoring, management and mitigation of systemic risk in the Nigerian capital market.
 The Act expands the categories of issuers, as a key step towards the introduction of a wide range of innovative products and offerings as well as the facilitation of “commercial and investment business activities,” subject to the approval of the commission and other controls stipulated in the Act.  It contains a new part which provides for the regulation of Commodities Exchanges and Warehouse Receipts. These provisions are essential to allow for the development of the entire gamut of the commodities ecosystem.  Salient provisions of the Act address existing restrictions in respect of raising of funds from the capital market by sub-nationals to allow for greater flexibility in this regard. The Act introduces the mandatory use of Legal Entity Identifiers (LEIs) by participants in capital market transactions. This stipulation is designed to improve transparency in the conduct of securities transactions.
The Act expressly prohibits ponzi schemes and other unlawful investment schemes, while prescribing stringent jail terms and other sanctions for the promoters of such schemes. It amends some key provisions in the repealed ISA 2007 pertaining to the composition of the tribunal, constitution of the tribunal, qualification and appointment of the chief registrar as well as the jurisdiction of the tribunal to enhance the ability of the tribunal to optimally discharge its mandate.
(NAN)

Continue Reading

Stock Market

NGX equity investors gain N97bn

Published

on

NGX market capitalisation inched up on Thursday as equity investors gained more than N92 billion in a wide price upswing that has lasted for three days. Trading activities closed on a positive note, and the bargain hunting boosted key market performance indicators by 0.10%.  The stock market index, or the All-Share Index, increased by 152.28 basis points, or 0.10%, to close at 145,476.15 basis points.

Also, NGX market capitalisation climbed by ₦97.06 billion to close at ₦92.73 trillion. Despite the negative breadth, the market rally reflects investors’ continued caution in the stock market. Stockbrokers reported buying interest in selective stocks including OANDO, WAPIC, UACN, TRANSCORP, GTCO, and others across all sectorial indexes.

In contrast, market activities inched lower as the total volume of all trades and their combine value by -14.15% and -8.47% respectively. Today, approximately 1,932.45 million units valued at ₦19,192.53 million were transacted across 23,369 deals.

FIDELITYBK was the volume driver, accounting for 9.04% of all stocks volume executed in the local bourse, followed by GTCO (8.25%), ZENITHBANK (7.90%), ETI (6.38%), and ACCESSCORP with 5.16%.
GTCO topped value chart, accounting for 19.52% of total value of all trades executed on the exchange – the highest traded on the exchange.
UACN led gainers chart, up by +10.00%, trailed by MORISON (+9.94%), ETI (+8.53%), WAPIC (+8.47%), MANSARD (+7.75%), FTNCOCOA (+7.10%), and seventeen others.

A total of twenty-eight (28) stocks depreciated, according to market report released by Atlass Portfolio Limited. With a price depreciation of -10.00%, ELLAHLAKES and EUNISELL both topped the worst performers’ chart, followed by TRANSCOHOT (-9.95%), OMATEK (-9.23%), GUINEAINS (-8.46%), and CAP (-6.16%).

Hence, the market breadth closed on a negative note, as there were 23 gainers and 28 losers. The sectoral performance was positive, as all five major market sectors appreciated. The insurance sector led with an increase of +1.56%, followed by the banking sector (+0.91%), the industrial goods sector (+0.48%), the consumer goods sector (+0.28%), and the oil & gas sector (+0.08%).

Continue Reading

Stock Market

Stock market  investors gain N252bn as NGX Index rises 27 bps

Published

on

Nigerian Exchange (NGX) continued its upward trajectory on Wednesday, with the All-Share Index climbing by 0.27% to reach 145,323.87 points. NGX market capitalisation rose to ₦92.38 trillion as equities investors gained N252 billion. The market demonstrated positive momentum, reflected in a breadth ratio of 1.9x, with 30 stocks posting gains compared to 16 that declined, stockbrokers said. The bullish momentum was fuelled by interest in some oversold stocks across key sectors. Among the top performers were GUINNESS, NCR, NGXGROUP, MULTIVERSE, and SKYAVN, while VERITASKAP, LASACO, PRESTIGE, ROYALEX, and ETI experienced the most significant declines.

Stockbrokers also noted positive price movement in BUACEMENT, UBA, GUINNESS, WEMABANK, STERLINGNG, among others. The All-Share Index added 395.51 basis points to close at 145,323.87 basis points. Trading metrics presented contrasting patterns as the volume of shares traded jumped dramatically by 271.27% to 2.25 billion units, and the number of transactions increased 45.45% to 21,513 deals. Conversely, the total value of transactions dropped 47.17% to ₦20.97 billion. ACCESSCORP emerged as the most traded stock, accounting for 13.60%, followed by ZENITHBANK (13.17%), GTCO (8.70%), STERLINGNG (6.27%), and FIDELITYBK with 5.25%.

ZENITHBANK topped the value chart, accounting for 20.54% of the total value of all trades executed in the local bourse. GUINNESS led the performers chart, gaining +10.00%, trailed by NCR (+9.98%), NGXGROUP (+9.96%), MULTIVERSE (+9.95%), SKYAVN (+9.74%), OMATEK (+5.69%), and twenty-four others. A total of fifteen (15) stocks depreciated, according to data obtained from the local bourse. With a price depreciation of -4.47%, VERITASKAP topped the worst performers’ chart, followed by LASACO (-3.77%), PRESTIGE (-3.03%), ROYALEX (-2.56%), ETI (-1.88%), and CORNERST (-1.75%). Hence, the market breadth closed on a positive note, as there were 30 gainers and 15 losers, stockbrokers reported.

Sector performance showed varied results: the Banking sector led with a 0.65% gain, followed by Industrial Goods which rose 0.47%; Consumer Goods up 0.38%; and Insurance advancing 0.27%. In contrast, the Oil & Gas sector fell 0.47% and Commodities declined 0.24% Ikeja Hotels hits highest valuation in 52 weeks gaining 45 per cent 

Continue Reading

Stock Market

NGX investors lose N129bn in one week

Published

on

The NGX All-Share Index fell by 0.14 per cent to 143,520.53, while market capitalisation closed at N91.286 trillion for the week.

This, compared with 143,722.62 points and N91.415 trillion recorded in the previous week, reflects weaker sentiment across the market.

Investors “lost about N129 billion this week as profit-taking continued across major counters”. Most indices closed lower, except NGX CG, NGX Premium, NGX Banking, NGX Pension, NGX AFR Div. Yield, NGX AFR Bank Value, NGX MERI Growth, NGX MERI Value, NGX Lotus II, NGX Growth and NGX Sovereign Bond.

These indices appreciated between 0.01 per cent and 0.94 per cent, showing selective interest in defensive stocks. Turnover rose to 4.140 billion shares worth N115.889 billion in 102,351 deals, higher than 2.668 billion shares valued at N106.264 billion last week.

The financial services industry led activity with 3.358 billion shares worth N81.175 billion in 43,392 deals.

This represented 81.10 per cent of total volume and 70.05 per cent of total value traded during the week.

The services industry followed with 148.272 million shares worth N1.319 billion exchanged in 7,181 deals. The consumer goods sector placed third with 143.638 million shares worth N7.988 billion in 12,099 trades.

Cornerstone Insurance, GTCO and Access Holdings accounted for 2.005 billion shares worth N47.535 billion in 10,185 deals.

These three stocks contributed 48.43 per cent of total turnover volume and 41.02 per cent of total value.

Thirty-eight equities gained during the week, up from 20 recorded previously, while 36 declined, compared with 60 in the prior week.

Seventy-three equities remained unchanged, higher than 67 posted in the previous trading week. Ikeja Hotel, NCR Nigeria, UACN, CWG and Veritas Kapital emerged top gainers, advancing by N9.40, N13.55, N8.90, N1.90 and 18k, respectively.

Meyer, Sunu Assurances, UPDC, Tantalizer and Abbey Mortgage Bank topped the losers’ chart, shedding N3.05, 68k, 68k, 26k and 65k, respectively.

The NGX disclosed the listing of 243,424 additional units of the Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund.

It said, “The additional units arose from the Fund’s 2025 Q3 scrip dividend distribution to qualifying holders.”

The NGX added that the Fund’s total units have increased to 1,056,257,953 following the fresh listing.

The exchange also confirmed the extension of VFD Group’s Rights Issue following SEC approval. It said trading in the company’s rights “will now close on Friday, December 26.”

Continue Reading

Trending