The negative performance of the local bourse was sustained in yesterday’s session as the NSE All Share Index (ASI) fell 10bps to 37,963.93 points while YTD loss remained at -0.7%.
Profit taking in ZENITH (-2.0%), GUARANTY (-0.7%) and INTBREW (-0.7%) pulled the benchmark index lower. Conversely, investors gained N9.7bn as market capitalization rose to N13.8tn. Similarly, activity level improved as volume and value traded increased 43.9% and 0.4% to 372.2m units and N3.2bn respectively.
The most traded stocks by volume were STERLING (172.6m), ZENITH (31.5m) and TRANSCORP (22.9m) while ZENITH (N792.7m), PRESCO (N404.4m) and GUINNESS (N277.9m) were the top traded stocks by value.
Negative Sector Performance
Across sectors, performance was largely bearish as 3 of 5 indices trended southwards.
The Insurance and Banking indices led laggards, down 0.8% and 0.6% respectively as a result of losses in NEM (-1.2%), REGALINS (-4.0%), ZENITH (-2.0%) and GUARANTY (-0.7%).
The Consumer Goods index also closed in the red, shedding 0.2% on the back of sell-offs in INTBREW (-0.7%). On the other hand, the Industrial Goods and Oil & Gas indices advanced 0.9% and 0.3% respectively following gains in WAPCO (+2.4%) and TOTAL (+3.7%) which offset losses in SEPLAT (-0.2%).
Investor Sentiment Dwindles
Investor sentiment as shown by market breadth (advance/decline ratio) weakened to 0.3x from 1.0x in the prior session as 12 stocks advanced compared to 35 decliners.
Yesterday’s top gainers were CILEASING (+4.7%), UNITY (+4.5%) and TRANSCORP (+4.4%) while JAPAULOIL (-7.3%), ETERNA (-5.0%) and FIRSTALUM (-5.0%) were the worst performers.
Given the softer investor sentiment, we believe the negative performance will be sustained in tomorrow’s trading session.
Nevertheless, we do not rule out the possibility of some bargain hunting in market bellwethers by the end of the week.
