FIXED INCOME MARKETS
Money Markets
Opening System liquidity settled at c.₦ 538.90 billion long, compared with yesterday’s opening balance of ₦765.13 billion. The Open Repo Rate (OPR) and the Overnight Rate (O/N) both increased by 20bps to 11.70% and 12.10% respectively.
Outlook: We expect the interbank rates stay at similar levels next week.
Treasury Bills
Market traded on a quiet note today, with minimal cares for the one-year paper (6-June-2024). Nonetheless, the average mid-rate increased by 36bps to 6.23%.
Outlook: We expect market to tilt focus towards the treasury bills auction next week, as the DMO will be offering ₦34.54bn treasury bills.
FGN Bonds
Activity in the local bonds market remained relatively quiet today. Although, few buying interests were seen on the selected papers, like the 2029 paper. Nonetheless, average yield remained unchanged at 13.68%.
Outlook: We expect activity to remain mildly active next week, barring any significant driver.
Eurobonds
The Nigerian Eurobonds market traded quietly today, with few interests seen at the belly of the curve. Consequently, the average yield fell by 7bps to 11.22%.
Outlook: We expect the US inflation data and the policy decision by the US Fed to be a key driver of market direction next week.
Equities
The Nigerian equity market closed on a bearish note, as the Nigerian Stock Exchange All Share Index (NGX ASI) declined by c.0.05% to close at 55,930.97 points, while year-to-date return settled at c 9.13%. Selling interests NB (-1.8%) and DANGCEM (-1.38%) led the downward trend in today’s session.
The NGX Industrial and Consumer Goods and Oil & Gas Indices depreciated in value by 0.55%, 0.01 and 1.60%, respectively. While the NGX Banking Index appreciated by 0.13%. UBA led both the volume charts with c.177.48 million units and the value with c. ₦ 1.73 billion.
Outlook: We expect the bullish bias to ease next week.
Foreign Exchanges
FMDQ’s Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Fixing (NAFEX) rate depreciated to ₦472.50 today, from ₦469.50/US$1.00 recorded yesterday.
Outlook: We expect further depreciation of the naira at the NAFEX window.
Commodities
Oil prices were broadly stable today, although poised for a second week of decline, as concerns over oil demand outweighed Saudi output cuts. As of report time, Brent oil prices depreciated by c. 0.25% to $75.77pb, day-on-day, while WTI depreciated by c 0.39% day-on-day to settle at US$70.99pb. Spot Gold depreciated by c. 0.11% day-on-day to close at US$1,976.50per ounce as of report time.
Outlook: We expect the rate decision by the US Fed to be a major driver of oil prices next week, alongside the outcome of other economic data.
