• Saturday, December 14, 2024
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Nigeria’s stock investors book N1.4trn gain in August

Stock market opens week on a negative note as mixed sentiment persists

Investors in Nigeria’s stock market booked about N1.411trillion gain in the month of August, a remarkable feat at the Lagos bourse which came despite trading sessions of profit-taking and bargain hunting.

The market increased by 3.44 percent in the review trading month ended Thursday, August 31.

“We have started to see profit taking in recent gainers, while the banking sector’s rebound was short-lived, as investors still await H1’23 results from GTCO, ZenithBank, Access Corporation and UBA,” said Lagos-based analysts at Vetiva Research who had also expected continued mixed trading sessions.

The market which had started August with All-Share Index (ASI) and equities market capitalisation at 64,337.52 points and N35.011trillion respectively closed the review month at 66,548.99 points and N36.422trillion.

Read also: Investors trade equities worth N2.154trn in 7 months

In eight months to August 31, the market’s positive return stood at 29.85 percent.

Looking at their recent global outlook for the second half (H2) of the year, Lagos-based analysts at United Capital who noted that the Nigerian stock exchange was met with a fantastic first half in 2023 also said they anticipate a broadly favourable equities market in H2 of 2023.

Read also: Stock market starts week in green as investors buy GSK, others

They supported their expectations on two key factors: the “unification of the exchange rate”, and “advocacy for a lower interest rate environment”.

These factors they said will stand as a significant upside for the earnings performance of listed Nigerian corporates, “which will bolster investors’ confidence toward listed corporates, particularly in earning seasons (H1-2023, and Q3-2023 earnings season)”.

Iheanyi Nwachukwu, is a creative content writer with over 18 years journalism experience writing on banking, finance and capital markets. The multiple awards winning journalist is Assistant Editor, BusinessDay. Iheanyi holds BSc Degree in Economics from Imo State University; Master of Science (MSc) Degree in Management from University of Lagos. Iheanyi has attended several work-related trainings including (i) Advanced Writing and Reporting Skills (Pan African University, Lagos); (ii) News Agency Journalism (Indian Institute of Mass Communication {IIMC}, New Delhi, India); and (iii) Capital Markets Development and Regulations (International Law Institute {ILI} of Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA).

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