FRI APRIL 18 2025-theGBJournal| The Nigerian equities market closed Thursday drained amid capitulation of big bank stocks, investors negative view to the latest inflation data and lingering concerns over the potential adverse effects of President Trump’s new tariffs
The benchmark index, the All-Share Index and market capitalization fell Thursday 0.3% w/w to close at 104,233.81 points and N65.499 trillion (down N207.07bn w/w) respectively.
All other indices finished lower with the exception of NGX Premium, NGX Pension, NGX MERI Growth, NGX Consumer Goods, NGX Oil & Gas, NGX Lotus II, NGX Growth, NGX Sovereign Bond and NGX Pension Broad Indices, which appreciated by 0.57%, 0.42%, 2.67%, 2.33%, 0.20%, 0.16%, 0.26%, 0.39%, and 0.55% respectively while the NGX AseM and NGX Commodity indices closed flat.
The market downturn was largely driven by profit-taking activities in ZENITHBANK (-4.2%), GTCO (-3.1%), UBA (-9.07% w/w),
NESTLE (-2.0%) and FIRSTHOLDCO (-1.6%). As a result, the MTD and YTD returns printed -3.3% and +1.3%, respectively.
Trading activity was relatively weaker, following a 26.7% decrease in the total trading volume and a 18.4% drop in trading value.
Trading in the top three equities namely Access Holdings Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc and Universal Insurance Plc (measured by volume) accounted for 448.105 million shares worth
N6.730 billion in 6,481 deals, contributing 29.39% and 15.65% to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.
Across sectors, the Banking (-5.4%) and Insurance (-2.3%) indices declined while the Consumer Goods (+2.4%) and Oil and Gas (+0.2%) indices advanced. The Industrial Goods index closed flat.
X-@theGBJournal|Facebook-the Government and Business Journal|email:gbj@govbusinessjournal.com|govandbusinessj@gmail.com
