Nigerian stocks climb to 9-year high

Nigerian stocks climbed to a nine-year high on Friday before edging down as some investors chose to lock in their profits.

The equity market gained more than 1 percent during the day, but was down 0.33 percent at the close, below 43,000 points.

Stocks have gained strongly in January, extending 2017’s 43 percent rise. The rally has taken the index up 12.55 percent since the start of the year.

Some see Friday’s late fall as temporary.

“I expect the market to remain net positive from now till March when earnings seasons begin as investors position for dividend yield and capital appreciation,” said an Africa equity sales analyst at a Nigerian stockbroker.

Twenty-nine companies were up at the close of trade, down from 46 that were ahead mid-session, as investor sentiment waned.

Banks led the decline. The index of Nigeria’s top 10 lenders shed 2.23 percent.

Flour Mills of Nigeria, which plans to start marketing from Jan. 15 to raise 39.86 billion naira in fresh equity, fell 5 percent, while Zenith Bank declined the most, sliding 5.3 percent.

Nigerian bourse suspends trading on Seven-Up shares

Nigeria’s bourse has suspended the shares of Seven-Up Bottling Co. following a takeover bid from majority shareholder Affelka to minority holders, the stock exchange said on Friday.

Seven-Up shareholders have passed a resolution to back the takeover bid by Affelka which will see the company delisted from the bourse, the exchange said in a notice.

Credit: Reuters