(Greenwich Merchant Bank): The NGX-ASI and market capitalization edged higher today by 0.32% tosettle at 52,403.51 points and N28.53 trillion respectively. The top gainers are FIDELITYBK 9.04%, DANGSUGAR 5.69%, BUAFOODS 5.56% and AFRIPRUD 8.33%. Consequently, Year-To-Date, it has gained 2.25%.
The market sentiment was mixed as the volume traded increased by 34.04% while value traded declined by 25.83% to close at 3,128million units and N13,068.09million respectively. Also, ACCESSCORP emerged as the highest traded stock by volume and value.
The market breadth closed negative at 0.79x due to the losses reported in Twenty-Eight (28) stocks, while Twenty-Two (22) stocks gained.
On the sectorial performance, gains were recorded in the Consumer Goods (2.90%), Banking (0.94%), Insurance (0.59%) and Industrial (0.01%) sectors. On the flip side the Oil & Gas (0.17%) sector declined.
Fixed Income Market
The average system liquidity declined by 15% to close at N1.10trillion from its opening balance of positive N1.30 billion.
At the interbank market, the Open Buy Back rate and Overnight rate declined by 163bps and 188bps to close at 12.63% and 13.13% respectively.
At the NTBills market, yields closed flat as average yield remained at 6.68%.
However, activities at the bond market was bullish as average yield dropped marginally by 2bps to close at 14.21%.
The Naira exchange rate, at the I&E window, appreciated by N1.00 to N463.00/USD from N462.00/USD.
Ifunanya Ikueze is an Engineer, Safety Professional, Writer, Investor, Entrepreneur and Educator.
