Banking equities, others to flourish in 2018 – Experts

Equities in the banking, agriculture, consumer goods and building materials sectors on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, expected to flourish in 2018.

The research arm of Lagos-based asset management and financial advisory giant, FSDH Group, in its Weekly Insights tagged ‘Equity Market Ready for Another Rally in 2018,’ made the prediction.

The NSE Banking and Consumer Goods Indices recorded the highest appreciation in 2017, growing by 73.3% and 37% respectively.

The following stocks recorded the highest return in terms of capital appreciation in 2017: Dangote Sugar (227%), International Breweries (195%), Fidelity Bank (193%), Fidson Healthcare (189%) and Dangote Flour Mills (186%).

FSDH Research said it expects the recovery witnessed in 2017 to continue this year. “We attribute the appreciation in Q2 to the release of the Full Year earnings and corporate actions during the period. The equity market dropped in Q1 every year in the last seven years, except in 2013. The depreciation in Q1 may reflect the delay in taking investment decisions at the beginning of the year,” FSDH said.

On the factors that contributed to last year’s positive performance, the financial advisory company said included “the increase in the price of crude oil; introduction of the Investors’ and Exporters’ (I &E) Foreign Exchange window leading to stability in the foreign exchange market; improved corporate earnings and the drop in the yields on the Nigerian Treasury Bills (NTBs).”

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Commenting further on this year’s outlook, FSDH said, “We observed a strong correlation between the historical movements in the NSE ASI and the crude oil price (Bonny Light). The current consensus is that the average price of crude oil will be marginally higher in 2018 than 2017. The inflation rate should decline further in 2018, barring adjustments to the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and the electricity tariff.

“The drop in the yields on fixed income securities should also lead to portfolio realignment towards the equity market.

“FSDH Research believes the expected drop in the equity market in Q1 2018 is an opportunity for strategic investment in the market ahead of the expected rally in Q2.

“The following sectors should perform well in 2018: Banking; Building Materials; Consumer Goods and Agriculture.”