Despite the global recession experienced last year, foreign investors stocks in the Nigerian Stock Exchange purchases is estimated to be in excess of N204.235 billion, representing 29.8 per cent of the aggregate turnover recorded last year.

This was an increase compared to the N153.457 billion recorded in 2008. Currently, total sales (outflow) during the year were in excess of N185.2 billion, culminating in a net inflow of N19.035 billion, a reversal of the net outflow of N480.5 billion in 2008.

Speaking in Lagos yesterday during the celebration of Thomson Reuters information partnership with the Nigeria stock Exchange (NSE), the director general of the exchange Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke said some of our erstwhile foreign investors are returning; while new investors are seeking opportunities and market information, adding that despite the global recession, our market remains attractive to foreign investors and portfolio managers at current low pricing of our equities and the high yield achievable on our bonds.

She said current upward movement in equity prices in our market suggests strongly that the market have seen the bottom of the decline of the last several months. "The total market capitalization, which opened the year at N7.03 trillion, stood at N7.72 trillion by March 10, 2010, indicating a growth by 9.8 per cent. Significantly, the equity market capitalization, which stood at N5 trillion in December 2009, now stands at N5.64 trillion, indicating a growth by 12.8 per cent", she said.