Banking Stocks boost market performance… ASI up 13bps

Today, the benchmark index appreciated 13bps to 21,757.47 points due to buying interest in banking stocks – GUARANTY (+5.3%), ACCESS (+9.8%) and UBN (+10.0%). Consequently, YTD return settled at -18.9% while market capitalisation increased ₦15.2bn to ₦11.3tn. Activity level waned as volume and value traded declined 26.1% and 15.7% to 172.2m units and ₦1.9bn respectively. The most active stocks by volume were ZENITH (40.6m units), UBA (15.9m units) and STERLING (13.2m units) while MTNN (₦594.8m), ZENITH (₦488.8m) and GUARANTY  (₦138.7m) led the value chart.  

Sector performance was mixed as 3 indices gained while 3 lost. The Banking and Insurance indices posted gains, up 6.0% and 1.9% respectively due to price appreciation in GUARANTY (+5.3%), ACCESS (+9.8%), NEM (+9.6%) and WAPIC (-8.3%). The AFR-ICT index also appreciated 0.2% due to buying interest in CHAMS (+9.5%). Conversely, the  Consumer Goods and Oil & Gas indices depreciated 4.6% and 0.2% respectively following losses in NESTLE (-10.0%), NIGERIAN BREWERIES (-0.7%) and OANDO (-2.3%). Lastly, the Industrial Goods index also declined 16bps due to a price decline in WAPCO (-2.1%).

Investor sentiment as measured by market breadth (advance/decline ratio) strengthened to 3.0x from the 2.7x recorded in the previous trading session as 24 stocks advanced relative to 8 decliners. The best performers were UCAP (+10.0%), UBN (+10.0%) and MORISON (+10.0%) while NESTLE (-10.0%), GLAXOSMITH (-7.9%) and JBERGER (-7.2%) led the laggards. Despite gains recorded in today’s session, low oil prices and the continuous spread of COVID-19 pose as major threats for investors in the domestic equities market.

Market Statistics for Thursday, 26th March 2020 

Afrinvest