FIXED INCOME MARKETS
Money Market
Opening system dipped by c.138.30% from ₦644.48 billion long to -₦246.85 billion today, largely ascribed to the NTB auction debit. As a result, the Open Repo Rate (OPR) and the Overnight Rate (O/N) increased by 399bps and 432bps to 20.20%, and 21.00%, respectively.
Outlook: We expect the interbank rates to stay elevated in the interim.
Treasury Bills
The treasury bills market was stirred by the unmet bids from yesterday’s auction, particularly the long end of the curve (November and December 2024). However, by close of market, offers on the newly issued 1-year paper increased from c.13.40% to c.13.65%, as sellers look to take profit ahead of next week’s NTB auction. Overall, the average mid-rate remained relatively unchanged at 9.47%.
Outlook: We expect a mixed theme tomorrow.
FGN Bonds
Activity in the local bonds market was mixed to bullish, with keen interests seen across the short end of the curve (2026, 2028 and 2029), 2036 and 2053 papers. Nonetheless, the executed trade volumes were few and far between. Overall, the market closed bullish, as average mid-yield fell by c.11bps to 15.68%.
Outlook: We expect a similar trend in tomorrow’s session.
Eurobonds
The Eurobonds market started off on a weak note, with selling interests observed across notable African papers. After the US Jobless claims data (Act. 220k vs Est. 221k), few buyside interests surfaced but the pace was less aggressive. Thus, the average mid-yield across Nigerian papers increased by 4bps to settle at 10.33%.
Outlook: We expect sentiment to be centered on the US NFP tomorrow.
Equities
Following yesterday’s bullish rally, particularly in the banking sector, profit-taking drove the Nigerian stock market downward by 0.49% to 71, 457.92 points, while the YTD performance settled at 39.43%, contributing to a total market capitalization of approximately ₦39.10 trillion. Thus, the selling interests were saturated around the banking names like FBNH (-9.86%), ACCESSCORP (-5.21%) and ZENITHBANK (-2.35). Trading activity was negative, as total volume and value trades declined by 36.73% and 37.62%, respectively.
Further, the total volume and value traded were led by UNIVINSURE and NB with 52.73 million units and ₦1.39 billion, correspondingly. The Banking and Industrial Indices depreciated by 2.01% and 0.01%, respectively , while the consumer goods sector increased by 0.03%. The Oil & Gas Index flattened.
Outlook: We expect a similar trend tomorrow.
Foreign Exchange
FMDQ’s Nigeria’s Autonomous Foreign Exchange (NAFEM) appreciated by 11.37% (or ₦108.15) to $/₦843.07 from $/₦951.22 recorded yesterday.
Outlook: The volatility is expected to persist in the interim.
Commodities
Oil prices recouped some of its losses after tumbling to a six-month low yesterday, but investors remained concerned about sluggish demand in the United States and China. Brent crude was reported at $74.71 per barrel, and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) at $69.96 per barrel, as at printing time. On the flip side, Gold prices inched higher, buoyed by lower bond yields, while investors awaited for a crucial U.S. employment report that could set the tone for Federal Reserve’s policy meeting next week. Gold prices fell slightly to $2,045.10 per ounce from the previous day.
Outlook: We expect oil prices to remain volatile in the interim.
