NGX Index Slip, As Investors Position Ahead Upcoming MPC Meeting, Q2 Earnings
Market Update for the Week Ended May 17 and Outlook for May 24-28 It was a bearish week, as the Nigerian Exchange Limited reversed previous week’s gains on selloffs in highly capitalized stocks, made worse by profit taking, just as investors and traders repositioned their portfolios on the strength of Q1 numbers and economic data. This is also coming ahead of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Monetary Policy Committee meeting, as well as month-end and the half-year earnings reporting season. The downward trend came in the midst of high volatility, as the NGX All-Share index’s action broke down various support levels on a less than average traded volume as revealed by the volume pattern. The action and pattern exemplify the uncertain economic environment, given that one indicator can come out positive but deceptive, since it does not reflect overall economic realities. Being the last trading week in the month of May, the market may oscillate, depending on the MPC meeting outcome. ...