FIXED INCOME MARKETS
Money Markets
System liquidity staggered around the positive territory, due to support from coupon inflows. It improved to ₦65.64bn long from -₦317.53bn recorded last week Friday. Consequently, the Open Repo Rate (OPR) and Overnight Rate (O/N) both lost over 2,000bps to close at 2.58% and 3.30%, week,-on-week, respectively.
Outlook: The monthly FAAC credit in additions to Inflows from FGN bond coupons on 2025s, 2035s and 2050s is expected to support system liquidity which should ease rates.
Treasury Bills
Market participants exerted interests at the tail end of the curve at the start of the week. At mid-week, interests spanned towards the mid region (Nov 2023, Mar 2024, Aug 2024, and Sept 2024 papers) of the spectrum and was subdued as the week sailed to a close. Nonetheless, average yield increased by 9bps to settle at 7.85%, week-on-week.
Outlook: The treasury bills auction scheduled for next week is expected to be the key event for the market. The DMO would be offering ₦177.12 billion worth of treasury bills.
FGN Bonds
The FGN local bonds opened the market on a quiet note, although, switched to a mild bullish sentiment across several papers like the 2029, 2033, 2049, 2050, and 2053 maturities. The bids seen on these papers collided with the bearish bias across the curve which painted a mixed narrative and was subtly sustained till the end of the week. Consequently, average yield shed 25bps to 14.08%, week-on-week.
Outlook: We expect the mixed sentiment to persist next week, pending any stronger market catalyst.
Eurobonds
The Eurobonds market experienced turbulence driven by the outcome of the US Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting and cues from Jerome Powell’s speech. Initially, a bearish bias prevailed, but shortly before the Federal Reserve’s announcement to hold rates at 5.50%, some buyside interests emerged. Subsequently, Powell’s remarks hinting at a prolonged period of rate stability rekindled bearish sentiments, culminating in an overall market closure on a bearish note. Overall, market closed on a bearish note, as average yield increased by 22bps to settle at 11.30%, week-on-week.
Outlook: We expect the US economic data to drive market sentiment next week.
Equities
In the Nigerian stock market, a mixed bias characterized the week’s performance. The first half of the week witnessed a modest bullish trend, buoyed by buying interests in prominent stocks such as AIRTELAFRI, OANDO, and UBA. However, a mid-week reversal occurred, with pressure on banking stocks and profit-taking activities surrounding OANDO, exacerbated by selling sentiments in the oil & gas sector due to news regarding the partial return of fuel subsidy. The NGX All Share Index (NGX ASI) depreciated marginally by approximately 0.02% to close at 67,324.59 points, while the year-to-date return settled at approximately 31.36%. DANGSUGAR (-12.31%) and DANGCEM (-8.49%) were among the prominent decliners driving the negative trend this week.
Amidst this backdrop, the NGX Consumer Goods Index displayed resilience by appreciating by 1.09%, contrasting with the depreciation observed in the NGX Banking, Industrial, and Oil & Gas Indices, which posted declines of 2.65%, 5.06%, and 1.47%, respectively, on a week-on-week basis. UNIVINSURE emerged as the volume leader with an impressive 1.66 billion units, while UBA claimed the top spot in the value charts with approximately ₦4.46 billion in trading volume for the week.
Outlook: We expect the mixed activity to persist next week.
Foreign Exchange
FMDQ’s I & E rate appreciated by ₦12.45 (1.64%) to $/₦747.46 compared to $/₦759.91 recorded last week.
Outlook: We expect the volatility to persist next week.
Commodities
Oil prices stayed elevated for the most part of the week, although, slipped downwards ahead of the US Fed’s policy decision. As of writing time, Brent oil prices appreciated by c. 0.13% to $94.05 per barrel, week-on-week, while WTI depreciated by c 0.19% week-on-week to US$90.60pb. Spot Gold appreciated by c.0.10% to US$1,948.1 per ounce as of report time.
Outlook: We expect oil prices to stay elevated next week.
