as Seplat, GTCO, MTN record losses
The Nigerian Exchange Limited, NGX closed last week lower as the stock market reacted negatively to the latest interest rate increase by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.
Last week, the Monetary Policy Committee, MPC of the apex bank raised the benchmark interest rate, the Monetary Policy Rate, MPR, by 25 basis points to 27.5 from 27.25%.
This marks the sixth consecutive rate hike this year, bringing the total rate increase to 875 bases points, bps from 225bps in 2023.
Reflecting the impact of the MPC decision of the stock market, the major performance indicator, NGX All-Share Index (ASI) declined by 0.3% Week on Week, W/ W to close at 97,507.87 points from 97, 829.02 points the previous week.
The sell pressures on Seplat, which declined by 6.0%, GTCO 3.0% and MTN Nigeria 1.2 % contributed significantly to negatively impact the market, while WAPCO gained 7.4%, Oando 6.7%, and FBNH 3.5%.
Meanwhile, market activity the week under review was robust, with trading volume and value rising by 63.6% W/W and 52.8% W/W, respectively. Sectoral performance was mixed, as the Oil & Gas declined by 1.9%, Consumer Goods Index 0.4% and Banking Index 0.30%, while the Insurance Index appreciated by 1.2% and Industrial Goods Index 0.8%.
Meanwhile, Month on Month,MoM analysis showed that the market marginally dropped by 0.1% while investors lost N64 billion as market capitalisation, which shows the total value of investment on the Exchange closed on Friday at N59.207 trillion from N59.271 trillion at the end of October, 2024.
On Year-to-Date, YtD returns the market settled at 30.4% gain.
Reacting to market outlook, analysts at Cordros Research stated: "This week, we expect cautious trading to persist due to the absence of any significant positive catalyst to boost sentiments."
Reacting as well, analysts at InvestData Consulting Limited, said: "We expect mixed sentiments to continue as players digest impacts of the latest rate hike, while rebalancing their portfolios midst of profit taking, bargain hunting, low valuation and position taking by smart money for year-end."
