Connect with us

Capital Market

We’ll Continue To Provide An Efficient Market To Enhance Securities Lending – NGX

Published

on

We'll Continue To Provide An Efficient Market To Enhance Securities Lending – NGX

Olushola Okunlade Writes

Consistent with its commitment to contribute to the growth and development of the capital market in Nigeria and Africa, Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) says it will continue to collaborate with market stakeholders to enhance securities lending transactions and provide an efficient and liquid market for investors.

This is even instructive as the Exchange noted that securities lending presents significant benefits to investors in a bull or bear market – either as lenders or borrowers.

Speaking during the NGX Securities Lending Forum 2022 in collaboration with Stanbic IBTC which was held in Lagos via Zoom, the Divisional Head, Capital Markets at the NGX, Jude Chiemeka, stated that securities lending transactions have become an important element of capital markets all over the globe.

He added that in today’s capital markets, securities seldom lie unutilized, noting that if not being bought and sold in outright market transactions, securities are frequently lent to parties wanting to borrow them, or used as collateral to raise short-term finance.

Quoting a 2021 report done by International Securities Lending Association (ISLA), Chiemeka said the total value of securities made available globally by institutional investors within lending programs stood at $34trillion with about $2.9 trillion on-loan globally across all asset classes; 48 per cent Government Bonds, 39 per cent Equities, 6 per cent, Corporate Debt Securities, 4 per cent, ETFs 3 per cent, Other Fixed Income in December 2021.

He also noted that the global securities lending industry generated $9.28 billion in revenue for lenders in 2021, according to DataLend – a 21.2 per cent increase from 2020, adding that this shows the huge potential available in securities lending transactions.

“Domestically, Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), in response to the need for market expansion and development, introduced many products – securities lending being one of them – to give investors (retail and institutional) a wide array of asset classes to choose from. Since the Securities Lending and Borrowing (SLB) services were officially launched in the Nigerian market in December 2015, uptake has steadily risen, though not as robust as envisaged.

According to a report by Nigerian Exchange Limited, in 2020, the market recorded impressive transactions, with about 7.4 million units worth N95.2 million traded. In 2021, while the volume in traded equities fell to about 6.8 million units the value grew to N513 million”, he said.

The Divisional Head explained that from the lender’s point of view, the benefits of securities lending include the ability to earn additional income through the fee charged to the borrower to borrow the security while adding that from the borrower’s point of view, it allows them to take positions like short selling. It also gives investors more options to take different views on the market.

“It is vital in the development of the capital market by providing liquidity, which in turn reduces the cost of trading and promotes price discovery.

The Exchange no doubt remains keen to provide an efficient and liquid market for investors and businesses in Africa, to save and access capital and investments. We promise to continue our collaboration with all market stakeholders, to collectively contribute towards the enhancement of securities lending transactions, and ultimately towards the growth and development of the capital market in Nigeria and Africa at large”, he said.

For his part, the Managing Director of Stanbic IBTC Nominee Limited, Majiyagbe Babatunde while giving a historical breakdown of how securities lending has evolved said the securities lending market which started over 40 years ago has grown, generating about $9.28 billion (N4.2 trillion) in revenue for lenders in 2021 and went up by 21.20 per cent from 2020 globally.

“With Nigeria reporting N600 million in trade value and N5bn assets pledged by lenders, only a few trades have been done in the securities lending universe. Given the size of the capitalization of the equities market and how mature we have now become, the market needs to do more.

“There also needs to be liquidity in the Securities Lending market. Unfortunately, there has been so much reliance on the period when the market goes long without proper planning for when the market goes short. Securities lending will create value for both situations so that even when the market goes short, you borrow and sell off and buy back when the securities have become low. In the end, there are equal benefits for all players in the market with the Securities Lending market”, he added.

Capital Market

NGX Group To Celebrate 2023 International Women’s Day 2023, Ring Bell For Gender Equality

Published

on

NGX Group of Companies 2023 International Women's Day and Ring the Bell for Gender equality

Olushola Okunlade Writes

NGX Group of Companies plans to celebrate 2023 International Women’s Day and Ring the Bell for Gender equality.

NGX Group of Companies recognises that investing in women’s empowerment in the workplace, marketplace, and community is of strategic importance to business growth and sustainability.

For this reason, NGX Group has chosen to celebrate IWD as part of the global UN SSEI event hosted by over 80 securities exchanges in collaboration with the UN Global Compact, UN Women, IFC, and WFE (the “Global Partners”).

The theme of this year’s celebration is ‘Embrace Equity’ and it seeks to celebrate women’s achievements, raise awareness about discrimination and take action to drive gender parity. To this end, our 2023 IWD celebration would build on the global theme, Embrace Equity.

Date: Wednesday, 8 March 2023
Time: 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm (WAT)
Venue: Zoom & Live streamed on YouTube

Participants are to register to attend: bit.ly/ngx-iwd-2023

Continue Reading

Capital Market

Domestic Investors Shun Risks, Stocks On 5-Month Rally

Published

on

Domestic Investors Shun Risks, Stocks On 5-Month Rally

Olushola Okunlade Writes

Few days to go before Nigeria’s highly anticipated general elections, domestic investors in the local bourse are scooping up positions in stocks, shunning potential risks from the impacts of voter’s choices.

Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) All-Share Index (ASI) is up 5.80% already in 2023 as of market close on 20 February 2023, maintaining a bullish run from September 2022. Data from NGX revealed that this has been a result of the outsized participation from domestic investors, who currently occupy 84% of total transactions conducted on the Exchange.

Foreign participation in the local bourse has so far moderated in recent years due to issues around forex liquidity and monetary policy, placing their turnover at 16% according to the December 2022 edition of the Domestic and Foreign Portfolio Investment Report of the Exchange. Analysts have commented that this is in due part a result of unimpressive yield in fixed-income securities, pushing investors to buy up fundamentally strong stocks with attractive dividend yields.

Historically, the market has typically experienced volatility during election season with some notable years, particularly the 1999 election – which saw change from military rule – and 2015 election – which saw the first incumbent defeat at the polls – experiencing declines pre-election. The positive domestic investor sentiment, according to analysts, has been driven mostly by strong earnings releases and dividend payouts announced by companies in the wake of earnings season. However, some have advised cautious trading as the 2023 elections approach but maintained their positive outlook on dividend yields and capital appreciation in bellwether stocks.

An analyst with Parthian Securities, Azeezat Awonuga, whilst commenting on the market with CNBC Africa said that investors are poised to hunt for gains in the stock market as the fixed income yields have moderated in recent times. “As we anticipate earnings from the banking sector which comprises about 60% of the volume in the market and also form the bulk of the fundamentals, positive earnings will push investors to plow more funds into the market,” she stated.

Another investment research analyst from Investment One Capital Management Limited, Akosile Oluwasanmi noted to Channels that uncertainties around the elections and the cash crunch in the economy could dampen investor sentiment into taking profits but positive corporate earnings could also see investors increasing their positions.

Continue Reading

Capital Market

Arbitration Group, International Chamber of Commerce, Nigeria Visit NGX Group

Published

on

Arbitration Group, International Chamber of Commerce, Nigeria

Arbitration Group, International Chamber of Commerce, Nigeria

Olushola Okunlade Writes 

NGX Group has received a courtesy visit from the Arbitration Group, International Chamber of Commerce, Nigeria on Friday 10 February 2023 in Lagos.

Arbitration Group, International Chamber of Commerce, Nigeria
Left-Right: Oghenekevwe Akpobia, Legal Manager, Litigation & ADR, Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX); Irene Robinson-Ayanwanle, Divisional Head, Business Support Services and General Counsel, NGX; Olubunmi Osuntuyi, Secretary General, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Nigeria; Oscar N. Onyema, OON, Group Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Exchange Group; Dorothy Ufot, SAN, Chairman, Arbitration Group, ICC Nigeria; Jean Chiazor Anishere, SAN, Co-Chair, Planning Committee, 7th ICC Africa Arbitration and Centenary Conference and Clifford Akpolo, Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, NGX, during courtesy visit by the Arbitration Group, International Chamber of Commerce, Nigeria on Friday 10 February 2023 in Lagos.

Continue Reading

Trending