?Anticipate more activity in market transactions?
By MADUKA NWEKE
Monday, April 12, 2010

With stability returning in governance as a result of inauguration of Federal Executive Council (FEC) cum portfolio assignments, investors should anticipative that sooner than later liquidity will return to the market. One of the stockbrokers that spoke to Daily Sun, Mr. Peter Eluehike, said since the budget has been signed, it would not take time for money from ministries to circulate.
Eluehike, managing director and chief executive officer, GEE Capital Limited, said that although the market is gradually recovering, investors should expect more of the bulls? rally when the ministers get settled for work. He said if the volatile atmosphere that enveloped the nation as a result of Yar? Adua?s return or no return could not stop the market from blooming then the stability already achieved will increase market activity.
"The market will continue in this tempo if negative policy from either government or regulators fails to surface as used to be, then the bullish run will be sustained. This is because the bullish rally noticed since early year delighted investors to buy into stocks in readiness for the forthcoming dividend harvest from companies," he said. Investors, who gather at the press gallery of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) busy themselves with questions, asking which company will declare dividend and when, to enable them position well for the harvest.
At the end of transactions on Friday, a total of 612,927,635 shares worth N5.073 billion that changed hands among investors in 11,168 deals were executed. The figures above show that as investors? confidence return, the market will continue to increase in activity, which in turn will swell indicators.
The increased volume of transaction indicates that more investors are accessing facility of the capital market with enthusiasm. This helped to push major market indicators (Capitalisation and Index) up. At the end of transactions yesterday, market capitalization of 198 traded equities hitherto at N6.462 trillion added N120 billion to close at N6.582 trillion while the All-Share Index (ASI) that stood at 26,716.70 appreciated by 499.33 points to close at 27,216.03 bases points.
Investors who spoke to Daily Sun are in accord that the market has started being mad again. According to one of them, the tempo is reaching the 2007 momentum only that the 2007 bullish run sustained for a along time. They agreed that the market has stabilized as it continues to move up despite attempts by profit takers to pull it down. Ninety-five stocks featured on the price movement table unlike the other days when highest 85 stocks will feature.
Out of the 95 stocks, 69 stocks made substantive gains while mere 26 others lost profusely. Oando, Flour Mills, Nigerian Breweries and BCC led on the gainers? table in the first, second, third and fourth positions with 448 kobo, 330 kobo, 330 kobo and 288 kobo to close at N93.71, N70.50, N69.39 and N63.99 per share respectively. Other stocks that recorded significant gains at the end of transactions yesterday included; Julius Berger, NBC, NNFM, WAPCO, CCNN, Ashaka Cement and UACN that gained 190 kobo, 169 kobo, 161 kobo, 150 kobo, 117 kobo, 112 kobo and 110 kobo to close at N39.90, N35.68, N33.93, N38.00, N24.67, N23.69 and N54.12 per share respectively.
On the loses? side, another Petroleum marketing giant, African Petroleum topped other losers with a loss of 194 kobo to close at N37.00 per share. Others in the laggard form included; UAC-PROP, Guaranty Trust Bank, ALUMACO, Eterna Oil and NAMPAK with 98 kobo, 67 kobo, 52 kobo, 41 kobo and 34 kobo to close at N24.01, N22.01, N9.98, N8.25 and N6.65 per share respectively.