Last week, the Nigerian stock market continued its downward trend, with four out of five trading days closing in the red.
The total market capitalization plunged by ₦4.76 trillion, while the All-Share Index (ASI) dropped 1.19%, settling at 106,538.60 points. Market capitalization shrank by 0.71% to ₦66.717 trillion, despite the listing of 1.104 billion shares of Ellah Lakes and 18.2 billion shares of Fidelity Bank on the exchange. Investor sentiment remained weak.
Why Did the Market Decline?
The overall market performance was poor, with all major sectors experiencing losses. The banking and insurance sectors led the decline, falling 2.87% and 2.33%, respectively.
The consumer goods, oil & gas, and other industries also faced downward pressure. Among individual stocks, Eterna plummeted 18.69%, while Transnational Corporation and FCMB Group dropped 17.72% and 14.15%, respectively.
Although some stocks, such as Tantalizers, which surged 36.32%, performed well, the overall market sentiment remained bearish.
Looking forward, market volatility may persist. Cowry Asset Management suggests that the release of top banks‘ audited financial reports could be a key factor influencing investor sentiment, while the market’s overbought conditions indicate a need for caution in the short term.
Additionally, Afrinvest predicts that as fixed-income market yields continue to ease, a moderate buying opportunity may emerge. Given these uncertainties, investors should focus on fundamentally strong stocks and adopt a well-calibrated strategy to navigate the market fluctuations.
