Investors’ Renewed Interest in Zenith Bank, 28 Others Lift Stock market

Kayode Tokede 

The stock market yesterday kicked off the week’s trading on 0.03 per cent gain driven by investors bargain hunting on Zenith Bank Plc and 28 others.

As a result, the Nigerian Exchange Limited All-Share Index (NGX ASI) up by 24.99 basis points, or 0.03 per cent to close at 97,747.27 basis points from 97,722.28 basis points the market closed for trading last week.

Consequently, market capitalisation rose by N16 billion to close at N59.231 trillion from N59.215 trillion.

Also, market breadth closed positive, as 29 stocks gained relative to 22 losers. John Holt emerged the highest price gainer of 9.97 per cent to close at N8.49, while Eunisell Interlinked and Beta Glass followed with a gain of 9.92 per cent each to close at N13.18 and N49.85 respectively, per share.

Lafarge Africa increased by 9.52 per cent to close at N46.00, while Tantalizer added 9.33 per cent to close at 82 kobo, per share. On the other side, MeCure Industries led the losers’ chart with 9.65 per cent to close at N11.70, per share. The Initiates Plc (TIP) followed with a decline of 9.09 per cent to close at N2.30, while Thomas Wyatt Nigeria shed 7.83 per cent to close at N3.65, per share.

University Press depreciated by 7.83 per cent to close at N3.65, while Champion Breweries down by 6.88 per cent to close at N3.52, per share.

The total volume traded increased by 40.03 per cent to 413.350 million units, valued at N5.336 billion, and exchanged in 9,004 deals. Transactions in the shares of Japaul Gold & Ventures led the activity with 179.098 million shares worth N379.739 million. Consolidated Hallmark Holdings followed with account of 36.840 million shares valued at N75.190 million, while Access Holdings traded 31.658 million shares valued at N775.547 million.

United Bank for Africa (UBA) traded 17.344 million shares worth N580.551 million, while United Capital traded 10.176 million shares worth N171.305 million.

Looking forward, United Capital Plc said “the equities market is expected to retain its buy interest as investors cherry-pick undervalued stocks. However, given the high interest rates in the fixed income and money markets, we expect some bearish undertone to persist in the equities market as fixed income biased investors take advantage of the high yields in the fixed income space.

“Nevertheless, the Bulls will remain incentivized to persist in bargain hunting, given the tremendous mid-long-term opportunities in the equities market.”