Stock investors record N13bn loss in seven days over interest rates hike

At the end of last week’s trading activities in the Nigeria Stock Market, the market capitalisation declined by N13 billion following the Central Bank’s Monetary Policy Rate hike to 18 per cent.

According to data gathered, the All-Share Index closed 0.04 per cent lower at 54,892.53 compared to the 54,915.39 it commenced last week.

A review of last week’s trade showed that similarly, all other indices finished lower except for NGX Consumer Goods and NXG Growth, which appreciated by 1.11 per cent and 2.90 per cent, respectively, while the NGX ASeM, NGX Oil and Gas indices and NGX Sovereign Bond index closed flat.

The NGX ASI went up slightly on Wednesday, a day after the new MPR rate was announced, but it continued to dip till the close of trading on Friday.

It was reported that the Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria raised Monetary Policy Rates, MPR, to 18 per cent from 17.5 per cent last month.

Muda Yusuf, the Director of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, CPPE, earlier disclosed that interest rate hike would affect investors in Nigeria.

However, stock analysts are optimistic that the market will bounce back since the elections are over.