FIXED INCOME MARKET
Money Markets
Interbank system liquidity improved significantly with an opening balance of ₦18.45 billion, higher than Friday’s deficit balance of ca -₦158.78 billion. However, the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) and the Overnight Rate (O/N) held steady at 13.83% and 14.00% levels, respectively.
Treasury Bills
The NTB market endured a quiet theme, as attention shifted to the first NTB auction for H2:2022. However, there was mild demand witnessed on 03 Oct 2022 and 28 November 2022 papers at 11.20% and 11.30% respectively, while offers were at 10.50% levels. Overall, the average rate stayed relatively flat, to close at 6.88%.
Bonds
The FGN bonds secondary market observed slightly improved offers across the auction bonds – 2025s, 2032s and 2042s at 10.20%, 12.50% and 13.15% respectively, albeit bids were scarce, as investors traded cautiously ahead of Monday’s FGN bond auction. Overall, the average yield inched up by 5bps day-on-day to settle at 11.66%.
Eurobonds
The SSA Eurobond space witnessed a bearish bias, as investors sold off their long exposures following the release of U.S‘ June CPI at 9.10% (50bps and 30bps higher than May’s figure and June’s market estimate of 8.80%, respectively). Investors are currently pricing another 75bps rate hike by the US Federal Reserve at its next meeting this month, as it appears inflation is yet to peak. Overall, the average yield across the Nigerian sovereign curve settled at 13.92%.
Equities
The domestic bourse started the week with sparse trading activities observed across the board. The Nigerian Stock Exchange All Share Index (NGX ASI) marginally gained 0.02% day-on-day to settle at 51,567.69pts, while year-to-date return extended to +20.72%. Trades on stocks like International Breweries Plc (+7.41%), Zenith Bank Plc (+2.05%), and First Bank of Nigeria Holdings Plc (+0.94%) elevated market performance
The NGX Consumer Goods and Banking indices gained ca 0.31% and 0.05% while NGX Oil & Gas and Industrial index lost ca 0.04% and 1.52%, day-on-day, respectively.
Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc led both the volume and value charts with ca 51.89 million units, traded at 1.06 billion worth of trades.
Foreign Exchange
FMDQ’s Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Fixing (NAFEX) rate appreciated to ₦424.58/US$1.00 from ₦426.13/US$1.00, recorded on Friday.
Commodities
Global crude oil prices slightly recovered from the sharp selloffs, despite the release of the latest U.S. inflation report, which indicated a swift jump in figures to 9.10% from 8.60% in May and above market forecasts of 8.80%. Consequently, this shored up the case for another significant Federal Reserve interest rate increase. Brent Crude Oil price gained ca 0.70% day-on-day to settle at US$100.20pb, while WTI rose ca 1.29% day-on-day to settle at US$97.04pb as at report time. Spot Gold gained ca 0.88% day-on-day to close at US$1,739.90 per ounce as at report time.
