The Nigerian bourse ended the trading week on a positive note leaving the All Share Index (ASI) Stock at 24,306.36 basis points, gaining 0.12%.

Accordingly, Month-to-Date and Year-to-Date losses stand at -0.68 per cent and -9.48% respectively, while market capitalization stood at N12.679 trillion after increasing by N14.76 billion.

Market sentiment, as measured by market breadth, was positive, as 12 stocks gained, relative to 9 decliners. IntBrew, Vitafoam and Glaxosmith led the gainers’ chart, while at the rear of the chart, ABC transport, UBA and GTBank led the chart.

Market upturn was paired with low trading activities compared to the performance recorded yesterday. Total volume and value of stocks traded declined by 29.47 per cent and 62.41 per cent to 131.63 million units and N899.4 million respectively.

STERLNBK was the most traded stock by volume at 17.6million units while ZENITHBANK finished the most traded stock by value at N220.4 million.

Sectoral performance was lukewarm, as one out of the five major sub-indices posted gains, with the Energy and Industrial index closing flat.

The Consumer Goods index (+0.56%) led the gainers, on INTERBREW (+6.94%) and GLAXOSMITH (+4.35%) gains. Losses in UBA (-2.34%), GUARANTY (-1.32%) and ZENITH (-0.30%) impelled losses in the lenders’ Index (-0.68%), followed by the Insurance index (-0.63%), following price decline in REGALINS (-8.33%) and AIICO (-4.26%).

Top gainers

INTBREW up 6.94% to close at N3.85, VITAFOAM up 5.13% to close at N5.33, GLAXOSMITH up 4.35% to close at N4.8,PZ up 3.45% to close at N4.5, MTNN up 0.96% to close at N116.1

Top losers

ABCTRANS down 8.93% to close at N0.51, UBA down 2.34% to close at N6.25, GUARANTY down 1.32% to close at N22.45, FBNH down 0.95% to close at N5.2, ZENITHBANK down 0.30% to close at N16.7

Outlook

Nigerian bourse finished on a positive note, with blue-chip stocks like MTN, triggering the rally experienced at the end of the trading week. However, Nairametrics envisages cautious buying on the resurgence of COVID-19 cases reported in Nigeria.

The exchange rate between the naira and the US dollar closed on Friday 10th of July at ₦465/US$1 in the parallel market. The exchange rate closed at ₦463/$1 on Thursday.

• Naira: ₦465
• Dollar: $1
• Date: July 10th 2020

The exchange rate between the naira and the British pounds sterling also closed at ₦565/₤1 on Friday 10th of July as against N562/$1 on Thursday 9th of July.

• Naira: ₦565
• Pounds Sterling: ₤1
• Date: July 10th 2020

The exchange rate between the naira and the European euro also closed at ₦506/€1 on Friday 10th of July as against N505/€1 on Thursday 9th of July. 

• Naira: ₦565
• Pounds Sterling: €1
• Date: July 10th 2020

Activity: The US dollar exchange rate rose to as high as ₦470/$1 during intra day trading. Most traders blamed scarcity for the mid-day volatility.

Data is collated from various black market dealers on the mainland and island of Lagos State where forex is sold. The price quoted daily on this page represents the average price obtained by our Research Team. Our prices are a guide and could be slightly different from the price you get when you eventually decide to buy or sell. This is a daily tracker and updated close of business. See table below for parallel market exchange rate dating to 2019.

The President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr Mansur Ahmed, announced on Friday that the recent CBN unification of Nigeria’s exchange rate is a welcome development that will boost investor confidence in Nigeria.

He said the exchange rate unification will enable stable planned production for manufacturers in Nigeria leading to economic growth, adding that the Manufacturers Association had urged for an exchange rate unification to enable a market-friendly business environment in Nigeria.

“Clearly, this is a welcome development and a laudable initiative that has come at the right time. This is more so, particularly, now that the economic outlook is gloomy in light of the impact of the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic that has culminated in uninspiring macroeconomic situations,” he said.

He revealed that the World Bank had attributed Nigeria’s falling Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to the multiple exchange rates as investors felt a “manipulation of the foreign exchange market.”

“The unification will also boost investors’ confidence, control rising inflation, and promote transparency, entrench better exchange rate management and eradicate distortions to the barest minimum,” he added.

READ MORE: After hitting a 3-year low during the week, Naira stabilizes as traders wonder what next)

He urged the CBN to tackle activities that made speculators manipulate the multiple exchange rates like “round-tripping” which he says expand the inflows of foreign investment into the economy.

He called on the Central Bank to implement 2 strategies to ensure a smooth transition into a unified exchange rate system.

“The first is to limit the short-term pains until efficiency gains materialize by responding swiftly with an inward-oriented rescue guideline while the second should seek to boost the pace at which such efficiency gains materialize,” he said.

He advised, it’s necessary the CBN “submit all the instruments of exchange rate determination” towards a free-market approach.