NSEASI slump by 2.4% amid global concerns

EHIME ALEX, Lagos 

The Nigerian bourse fell by 2.4 per cent Monday to 25,647.54 points – largest decline since September 12, 2019 — as investors reacted to falling crude oil prices and the continued spread of the coronavirus.

As a result the month-to-date return turned negative by -2.2 per cent, as year-to-date loss also increased to -4.5 per cent.

The total volume of trades decreased by 48.6 per cent to 185.65 million units, valued at N1.83 billion and exchanged in 2,690 deals.

Stock of Zenith Bank Plc traded most by volume and value at 53.51 million units and N907.08 million respectively.

All sectors indices closed negative with the Banking index recording the largest loss by -9.0 per cent following declines in the Tier I names.

The Consumer Goods index fell by -2.5 per cent, followed by Insurance, Oil & Gas and Industrial Goods indices which plummeted by -2.4 per cent, -1.4 per cent and -0.01 per cent in that order.
 
Market sentiment, as measured by market breadth, was negative, as 38 tickers lost, relative to one gainer.

United Capital PLc and Unilever Nigeria Plc stocks topped the loser’s list by -10.0 per cent a piece, while only Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc gained by +10.0 per cent.

Meanwhile, the naira was flat at N360.00/USD in the parallel market, while it weakened by 0.04 per cent to N366.71/USD at the investors-ecporters forex window.