FIXED INCOME MARKETS
Money Markets
System liquidity was boosted by FAAC credit this week. System liquidity increased by more than 10.15x, from -₦74.69 billion recorded at close of last week to ₦683.56 billion long. Consequently, the Open Repo Rate (OPR) and Overnight Rate (O/N) fell by 1,953bps and 1,960bps to 0.90% and 1.40%, respectively.
Outlook: We expect the interbank rates to hover at single-digit levels next week, in the absence of any major flows.
Treasury Bills
It was a bearish week for treasury bills market this week. For the most part of the week till Thursday, offers persisted around the tail end of the curve. Although, after the less-expected upsurge in stop rates at the auction, some buyside interests were seen on the one-year paper, especially 25-July 2024, with few trades executed before the close of today’s session.
At the auction, the DMO sold ₦264.33 billion treasury bills across the three papers, in line with the total offer size. The stop rates for the 91, 182 and 364-day papers skyrocketed by 314bps, 450bps and 621bps to 6.00%, 8.00% and 12.15% respectively, compared to the previous auction. To add, market bid to offer size at the auction was 1.51 times. Average yield expanded by 343bps to 7.02%, week-on-week.
Outlook: Next week, we expect some cherry-picking activities next week, given good liquidity levels and higher treasury bills rate.
FGN Bonds
The local bonds market started the week with light offers, partly suggesting market expectation for another upward adjustment in the monetary policy rate (MPR) and uncertainty around other policy alterations in the first chaired meeting by the Acting CBN Governor, Folashodun Shonubi.
However, after the 25bps hike in MPR, adjustment to the asymmetric corridor (now +100/-300bps around the MPR) and enforcement of the LDR policy, the average yield trended upwards by more than 100bps. At the close of the week, activity stayed quiet, with a bearish posture for the week. Average yield increased by 72bps to 13.37%. week-on-week.
Outlook: We expect the bearish sentiment to reemerge next week.
Eurobonds
This week, positive US economic data (PMI, Q2’23 GDP, Jobless Claims, and Core PCE Price Index) enthused market participants, shrugging off the 25bps increase in interest rate by the US Federal Reserve. The Nigerian Eurobonds market closed the week mixed to bullish, as average yield shed 26bps to 10.14%, week-on-week, amid mild profit taking.
Outlook: While profit taking is expected to continue next week, we expect the US Job opening data and Job report to drive activity towards the end of the week.
Equities
The Nigerian equity market closed slightly positive, week on week, as the Nigerian Stock Exchange All Share Index (NGX ASI) appreciated by c 0.08% to close at 65,056.39 points, while year-to-date return settled at c 26.94%. Buying interest SEPLAT (+20.99%), and OKOMUOIL (+5.87%).
The NGX Banking, Industrial and Consumer Goods Indices depreciated by 2.21%, 0.31% and 2.36%, respectively, while the NGX Oil & Gas Index appreciated by 9.28%, week-on-week. FBNH led the volume charts and value charts with c. 412.17 million units and c. ₦ 8.68 billion, this week.
Outlook: We expect market to trend slightly bullish next week.
Foreign Exchange
FMDQ’s I & E rate appreciated by ₦2.06 to $/₦775.76, compared to $/₦777.82 recorded last week.
Outlook: We expect the volatility to persist next week.
Commodities
Oil prices are on track for a 5th weekly gain, spurred by tighter supplies by key oil producing countries. Brent oil prices appreciated by c. 2.80% to $83.95 per barrel, week-on-week, while WTI appreciated by c 3.71% week-on-week to settle at US$79.93pb. Spot Gold depreciated by c. 0.49% to US$1,957.00 per ounce as of report time.
Outlook: We expect oil prices to stay glued to its $80pb levels next week, as OPEC+ meeting should result to an extended reduction in oil supply.
