Stock Market
Seplat announces exchange rate of N385.78/$1 in payment of its interim dividend
Seplat has announced that an exchange rate of N385.78/$1, will be used to determine its interim dividend.
Seplat Plc has announced that an exchange rate of N385.78/$1, will be used to determine its interim dividend payment of US$0.05 (United States Five Cents) per share to shareholders whose names appear on its Register of Members as at 13th November 2020.
This disclosure was made in a corporate announcement issued by the company’s Chief Financial Officer, Emeka Onwuka, which was made available on the website of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).
The management of the company advised in the document that shareholders that hold their shares on the NSE may elect to receive their entire dividend payment in Dollars, while shareholders on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) may elect to receive their entire interim dividend payment in GBP or USD Dollar.
In line with this, the company submitted that the following currency exchange rates would be applicable in the determination of the interim dividend payment to shareholders that qualify for and have elected to receive the Q3 2020 interim dividend payment in Naira or GBP.
Exchange Rate
1 USD = 385.78 Naira
1 USD = 0.7534 GBP
What you should know
However, the exchange rate for the Naira or Pounds Sterling amounts payable was determined by reference to the exchange rates applicable to the US dollar available on 12th November 2020.
The CBN official exchange rate currently stands at N379.5. Further checks by Nairametrics revealed that the Naira rate used is the FMDQ benchmark rate for foreign exchange spot operations in the Investors and Exporters FX Window (NAFEX).
What this means
It may be argued that the N385.78/US$ proposed by the company is a fair decision on the NSE shareholders, as the proposed exchange rate by the company, holds a fairly robust premium of N6.78/US$ for the shareholders when compared with the CBN rate of N379/US$ the day the decision was made.
However, when compared with the rate at the parallel market, which had opened and closed at N460/US$ on the day the decision was made – Friday 13th November, one may argue that shareholders would have wanted more in terms of currency conversion.
Viewed from the parallel market exchange rate angle, NSE shareholders may conclude that they lost N74.22 per US$ on the conversion.
Stock Market
Dangote Cement loses N92 billion on NGX, as investors digest Q1 2021 financial results
The NGX All-Share Index and market capitalization declined by 0.92%, as shares of Dangote Cement and MTN declined.
The stocks of top cement companies on Wednesday closed in the downline as investors sold off stakes in the shares of Dangote Cement despite impressive Q1 2021 results.
Data tracked on the Nigerian Stock Exchange revealed that the shares of Nigeria’s most capitalized company lost a whopping N92 billion in market value, at the back of a 2.49% decline in the share price of the leading cement producer.
On the flip side, shares of BUA Cement, another key producer in the Nigerian cement industry closed flat on the exchange today, while Lafarge Africa lost a meagre N1.6 billion of its market capitalization, triggered by a 0.47% decline in its share price.
The impact of this decline on the NSE Industrial Index
The 2.49% decline in the shares of Dangote Cement weighed heavily on the Industrial index, an index that tracks the performance of industrial companies listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
At the end of the market today, the industrial index closed lower at 1918.94 index points, driven by the N92 billion market value loss which Dangote Cement suffered today on the exchange.
The index depreciated by 1.19% to print its biggest loss in a day since the 3oth of March when it depreciated by 1.90%.
Decline in Dangote Cement and MTN Nigeria shares weighed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange
The Nigerian Stock Exchange NGX, closed on a negative note today largely occasioned by the decline in the shares of MTN Nigeria and Dangote Cement.
The shares of MTN Nigeria suffered a market value decline of 4.65%, to close the day lower at N162 per share as investors continue to price in the impact of regulatory restrictions on new SIM sales and activations on the revenue and earning power of the company. Mobile subscribers on the MTN’s network declined by 5 million to 71.5 million in the first quarter of 2021.
This bearish sentiments in the shares of MTN and Dangote Cement both led to the NGX All-Share Index and market capitalization decline of 0.92%, to close lower at 39,111.30 index points and N20.468 trillion respectively.
Stock Market
Conoil, Courtville soar as NGX ASI plummets
The All-Share Index decreased by -0.81% to close at 39,114.73 from 39,433.81.
The Nigerian Stock Exchange market maintained the bearish momentum speculated by analysts. The All-Share Index decreased by -0.81% to close at 39,114.73 from 39,433.81.
• Nigerian Stock Exchange market value currently stands at N20.64 Trillion. Its Year-to-Date (YTD) returns currently stand at -2.87%.
• The market breadth closed negative with the bears as CONOIL led 25 Gainers, and 20 Losers topped by BOCGAS showing a hint of consolation.
Top gainers
1. CONOIL up +10.00% to close at N18.70
2. COURTVILLE up +10.00% to close at N0.22
3. SEPLAT up +9.99% to close at N604.40
4. LINKASSURE up +8.62% to close at N0.63
5. ACCESS up +5.19% to close at N8.10
Top losers
1. BOCGAS down -9.99% to close at N12.25
2. LIVESTOCK down -9.90% to close at N1.73
3. SCOA down -9.66% to close at N2.15
4. REDSTAREX down -9.59% to close at N3.11
5. REGALINS down -9.38% to close at N0.29
Outlook
The Nigerian stock market continued the bearish run held yesterday as it posted losses once again at the end of the trading session today.
• Market sentiments tend toward consolidations as the NGX ASI closes with 25 Gainers and 20 Losers.
• Nairametrics advises cautious buying in this era of growing uncertainties.
