Business
Market Indicators And FGN Bonds Drop
On speculation that foreign investors’ exist as a result of alleged easing of US Federal Reserve’s Stimulus Package among others, the twin market performance indicators on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the all share index and the market capitalisation last week finished on the red as both lost well over 5 per cent respectively.
In specific terms, the all share index otherwise called the composite index closed at 36,4644.39 basic points from an opening of 37,249.93 basis points while the market capitalisation of listed equities finished at N11.71 trillion from an opening value of N11.97 trillion.
The first trading day on the Nigerian bourse during the week under review finished on a negative note having recorded 0.44 percent lost. The bears’ hold on the market continued the next day as the market dipped further by 0.16 percent.
The bulls took over on Wednesday as the market garnered 0.30 percent on the strength of highly capitalised stocks.
The bears took over the market on Thursday as the market depreciated by 0.46 percent while on Friday it recorded a further plunge of 1.35 percent.
A total of 1.63billion units of shares worth N21.68billion were exchanged by investors in 30,952 transactions. The week’s activity chart was led by the financial service sector having recorded a turnover of 1.10 billion units of shares valued at N10.55 billion traded in 16,479 deals which represents 67.67 percent, 48.67 percent and 53.24 percent of the overall traded volume, value and deals respectively.
The conglomerate sector emerged second on the activity chart with a turnover volume of 141.20 million units of shares valued at N412.13 million in 1,046 deals contributing 8.6 percent, 1.90 percent and 3.38 percent of the total equity turnover volume, value and deals in that order.
The Consumer Goods Sector came third with a recoded turnover volume of 141.02 million units of shares at the cost of N8.10 billion traded in 6,365 transactions.
According to the NSE weekly report transactions in the shares of Zenith Bank Plc, Sterling Bank Plc and Transactional Corporation of Nigeria Plc accounted for 419.40 million units of shares worth N3.542 billion in 3,173 trades contributing 25.72 percent, 76.34 percent and 10.25 percent to the overall equity market turnover volume, value and deals respectively.
A total of 32 stocks appreciated in their prices during the week under review while 49 stocks depreciated in their prices and 112 share prices remained unchanged.
Meanwhile, major equity markets around the globe were upbeats as their indices gained marginally. The NASDAQ, S $ P500 and Dow Jones rose by 1.26 percent, 1.02 percent and 0.78 percent respectively during the review week.
In Europe, the German Dax, FTSE100 and France CAC 40 increased by 0.66 percent, 0.78 percent and 1.20 percent respectively.
Nikkei 225 rose by 4.57 percent while Hangbeng and BSE Sensex, all in the Asia Pacific region increased by 2.4 percent and 0.57 percent in that order.
Those on the downside were Brazilian Bovespa which reduced by 2.62 percent while Russia’s RTS Index dropped by 0.68 percent.
The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) bonds to be issued during the third quarter of 2013 will range between N140 billion and N250 billion according to Debt Management office (DMO) calendar.
In comparism with a range of N200 billion to N280 billion issued during the corresponding period in 2012, the range was on the downside though the actual bond issued was N210 billion.
The DMO stated that, in the next quarter, the 5-year and 20-year bonds would be reopened even as a new 3-year bond would be issued.
The Treasury bill calendar revealed that a total of N751 billion worth of bills across all maturities are to be issued during the third quarter of this year meanwhile the actual amount of treasury bills issued during the third quarter of 2012 was N1.538 billion.
According to market analysts, the drop in the amount of FGN bonds to be issued reflects government’s plan to reduce domestic borrowing.
The over the counter bond market last week saw more sell off than bargain hunting as the 20-year, 10 percent FGN July 2030 instrument dipping by N0.69 while yield rose to 13.29 percent from 13.69 percent. The 10-year 7 percent FGN October 2019 paper depreciated by N0.54 even as yield surged from 13.01 percent to 13.18 percent. The 5-year 4 percent FGN April 2015 bond tanked by N0.07 having yield rose from 13.41 percent to 13.56 percent.
On the flipside the 7-year 9.25 percent FGN September 2014 debt paper gained N0.01 even as the yield declined from 13.39 percent to 13.44 percent.
MoniePoint Inc. a digital financial firm in Nigeria, has said it is empowering community pharmacists across the country with innovative payment solutions to improve access to drugs.
The financial firm said it had also provided loans for pharmacists under the aegis of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) to drive healthcare delivery in the country.
MoniePoint in a release titled, “Inside Nigeria’s community pharmacies: How Moniepoint drives healthcare access with payments and funding”, has reaffirmed its commitment to providing digital payment solutions to improve health outcomes in Nigeria.
The release examined how community pharmacies play a crucial role as vital access points for medical care in Nigeria, especially in areas with limited hospital or clinic access.
According to the release, the ACPN National Chairman, Ambrose Igwekwam, highlighted the critical role played by community pharmacies in Nigeria’s healthcare system over the years.
Igwekwam, however, expressed concerns over the challenges confronting the nation’s pharmaceutical industry which he said was hindering access to affordable medicines.
The pharmacist listed poor infrastructural systems, power, transportation, regulatory bottlenecks, importation dependency, and limited research opportunities as major challenges facing the pharmaceutical sector.
He also stressed the need for robust collaborative efforts with institutions like Moniepoint to strengthen the sector.
“As Nigeria continues to grow, improving local pharma manufacturing to meet the demands of this growth presents a key opportunity for us all.
“There is also the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement, which is expected to boost our industry, especially when we start producing our drugs locally, which will provide the much needed foreign exchange from exports.
“We are also seeing advancements in digital health and technology which would hopefully deepen the practice of e-prescription in Nigeria”, the ACPN boss said.
Corlins Walter
In order to enhance customer service and streamline operations, the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) has called on stakeholders in the insurance industry to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The President of the institute, Yetunde Ilori, made this call at the 2024 Office Representatives Committee (ORC) Workshop, organised by the institute, with the theme “AI and the Future of the Insurance Industry”, in Lagos.
Ilori at the event, emphasised the importance of AI adoption, noting that it was not a threat to jobs but rather a tool to improve efficiency across the insurance sector.
“It is not about AI taking over our jobs, but about us using AI to simplify processes and give maximum satisfaction to all the customers we serve whether as underwriters, brokers, loss adjusters, or in educating our members”, she said.
The workshop, which brought players in the insurance sector together, aimed to address how AI could be leveraged to transform business processes and improve customer interactions.
The Chairman of the ORC, Monica Nwachukwu, underscored the role of AI in modernising the industry, adding, “AI can automate customer and claims processes, allowing insurers to provide faster and more efficient services to their customers”.
She explained how AI could help extract data from legacy systems, enhancing decision-making processes.
“By integrating AI with APIs, insurers can feed valuable data into AI solutions to improve operations and customer service”, she added.
In his address, the Managing Partner of A4S and Training Heights, Orlando Odejide, stressed the need for companies to align their strategies with future technologies like AI, especially as they prepare for 2025.
“Any organisation that wants to grow into the future must have its strategic plan in place. If your strategy for 2025 is not ready, it should be done by October”, he advised.
He encouraged participants to think critically about how AI could be integrated into their business models to ensure they remain competitive.
“The idea is for you to use this workshop as a platform to think about your organization and how AI can help streamline your processes and improve growth”, Odejide noted.
In order to gain global respect and recognition, the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has reaffirmed its determination to pursue its goal in ensuring that Nigeria’s space capabilities are recognised on the world stage.
The agency also reaffirmed its commitment to positioning Nigeria as a key player in the global space economy.
In a statement by the Director of Media and Corporate Communications, Dr. Felix Ale, NASRDA revealed that the Director-General of the agency, Matthew Adepoju, emphasised this during recent engagements at the 79th United Nations General Assembly and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and Global Alliance Business Association international conference in Michigan, United States.
The statement noted that Adepoju outlined a forward-thinking agenda, stressing the importance of Nigeria’s space programme as a leader in research, exploration, and technological innovation.
“Our goal is to ensure that Nigeria’s space capabilities are recognised on the world stage.
“We must foster collaborations with global space agencies to enhance our satellite capabilities and technological infrastructure”, he stated.
The NASRDA boss said the agency is focusing on enhancing satellite capabilities, expanding international collaborations, and leveraging space science for national development.
He said NASRDA will have no stone unturned in pursuit of excellence, ensuring the agency secures the necessary resources and recognition to propel it forward.
“The relationships we build today will pave the way for tomorrow’s advancements in space science.
“Innovation and progress thrive in an environment built on collaboration and inclusivity”, he stated.
He emphasised that with the support of the government, international partners, and a dedicated team, NASRDA is poised to make significant strides in the evolving global space landscape.
“We are on the brink of a new era for Nigeria’s space agency. Together, we will ensure our nation stands out in the global space economy”, he said.
Corlins Walter
