Stock market ends Jan with N1.6trn loss

January 2015 ended with N1.631 trillion loss, though many financial analysts envisage that the market’s poor run would continue till first half year.
They attributed the ongoing negative movement to uncertainty around the upcoming general election, decline in oil price, devaluation of naira among other factors.
The major benchmark of the NSE, NSE All-Share Index and market capitalization depreciated by 5,095.08 basis points or 14.70 per cent and N1.631 trillion represented 14.21 per cent respectively to close the month of January at 29,562.07 points and N9.847 trillion.
However, a turnover of 8.005 billion shares worth N94.863bn in 85,031 deals were traded in January by investors on the floor of the Exchange in contrast to a total of 11.850 billion shares valued at N129.038 billion that exchanged hands in December in 90.494 deals.
The Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 5.820 billion shares valued at N44.228bn traded in 48,354 deals; thus contributing 72.70 per cent and 46.62 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.
The Oil & Gas Industry followed with a turnover of 975.142 million shares worth N21.050bn in 7,692 deals. The third place was occupied by the Consumer Goods Industry with 452.333 million shares worth N20.258bn in 13,941 deals.
Summary of price changes shows that only 18 equities appreciated in price during the month lower than 38 equities of the preceding month. Sixty-eight equities depreciated in price higher than 55 equities of the preceding week, while 111 equities remained unchanged lower than 104 equities recorded in the preceding week.
Presco Plc led gainers chart with N8.16 kobo to close at N32.66 kobo, followed by PZ Plc with N5.84 kobo to close at N29.64 kobo, UAC of Nigeria Plc with N3.20 kobo to close at N37.20 kobo, Beta Glass Plc with N2.22 kobo to close at N30.00 kobo per share. Others on the chart are, Forte Oil Plc with N2.10 kobo to close at N230.00 kobo, Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc with N2.10 kobo to close at N27.45 kobo, Lafarge Africa Plc with N2.05 kobo to close at N82.55 kobo, Total Nigeria Plc with N1.50 kobo to close at N144.00 kobo, CAP with N1.25 kobo to close at N38.75 kobo and Union Bank of Nigeria Plc with N1.00 kobo to close at N9.50 kobo per share.
Nestle Foods Nigeria Plc led the top ten losers with a loss of N211.50 kobo to close at N800.25 kobo, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc lost N65.78 kobo to close at N305.23 kobo, Dangote Cement Plc with N44.00 kobo to close at N156.00 kobo, Guinness Nigeria Plc with N38.16 kobo to close at N129.99 kobo and Nigeria Breweries Plc with N23.28 kobo to close at N142.02 kobo per share.
Others on the chart are, Julius Berger Plc with N15.77 kobo to close at N44.89 kobo, Glaxo Smithkline Consumer Nig. Plc with N10.00 kobo to close at N40.00 kobo, 7-Up Bottling Company Plc with N9.40 kobo to close at N156.00 kobo, Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc with N8.00 kobo to close at N150.00 kobo and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc with N5.15 kobo to close at N20.03 kobo per share.