Investors lose N1.58trn as NGX sheds 0.97% in a week

Investors in Nigerian equities lost approximately N1.58 trillion in market value last week as renewed selling pressure in banking, oil and gas stocks outweighed gains in selected counters, reversing part of the market’s strong 2026 rally.

The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) All-Share Index (ASI) fell 0.97 per cent week-on-week to close at 248,363.55 points, while market capitalisation declined by the same margin to N161.26 trillion from approximately N162.84 trillion in the previous week.

The decline reduced the market’s year-to-date return to 59.60 per cent from 61.17 per cent, although equities remain significantly higher than their opening levels for the year.

Banking stocks led the weekly losses, with the sectoral index falling 3.93 per cent, followed by oil and gas stocks, which declined 3.81 per cent. Consumer Goods lost 1.49 per cent, Insurance fell 1.15 per cent, while Industrial Goods declined 0.24 per cent.

The sell-off was led by Fidelity Bank, which shed 10.64 per cent, First HoldCo, down 4.27 per cent, and Access Holdings, which declined 1.37 per cent.

These losses outweighed strong performances from Livestock Feeds, which gained 47.75 per cent, Guinea Insurance, up 29.17 per cent, and CAP, which advanced 16.22 per cent.

Despite the weekly decline, the market recovered marginally in Friday’s session, with the ASI and market capitalisation rising 0.13 per cent. Oando gained 6.90 per cent, MTN Nigeria Communications rose 2.69 per cent, and Livestock Feeds advanced 9.58 per cent, offsetting losses in Fidelity Bank, Nahco and Jaiz Bank.

However, the final session’s rebound came with weaker trading activity. Volume fell 34.57 per cent to 322.04 million shares, while transaction value declined 46.08 per cent to N20.50 billion. The number of deals also dropped 2.33 per cent to 37,810.

Access Holdings led volume turnover with 19.19 million shares, while Zenith Bank topped the value chart with transactions worth N4.30 billion. Market breadth remained negative, with 29 advancers against 37 decliners, indicating that selling pressure persisted despite the index’s modest recovery.

The correction follows an extended rally that has delivered substantial gains to equity investors this year. The latest pullback, particularly in banking stocks, highlights growing sensitivity to profit-taking and changing investor appetite after the market’s strong appreciation.

The weakness extended to the NASD Over-the-Counter market, where the NASD Securities Index fell 2.40 per cent week-on-week to 4,355.00 points. Market capitalisation declined 2.61 per cent to N2.61 trillion, while the year-to-date return moderated to 22.89 per cent.

Trading on the NASD strengthened sharply, with volume rising 1,820.06 per cent to 6.07 million units and transaction value surging 1,853.62 per cent to N393.37 million. A total of 172 trades were executed during the week, up 391.43 per cent.

Global developments also remain relevant to investor sentiment. US consumer sentiment weakened in October amid cost-of-living concerns, while energy-market uncertainty persisted despite plans by Germany and other countries to release strategic oil stocks to ease supply pressures.

For Nigerian investors, the week’s losses represent a setback rather than a reversal of the broader bull run. With the NGX still up 59.60 per cent year-to-date, the market’s direction will increasingly depend on earnings prospects, sector-specific performance and investors’ willingness to sustain positions at higher valuations.

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OPay’s $533m investment portfolio yields 22% ahead of US IPO

OPay Limited’s short-term investment portfolio has grown to $532.94 million, generating rising interest income as the Nigerian fintech company prepares for a proposed listing on the New York Stock Exchange, according to its registration statement filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

The portfolio, valued at June 30, 2026, accounted for 27.9 per cent of OPay’s total assets of $1.91 billion, highlighting the growing contribution of investment returns to the company’s earnings alongside its digital payments and savings businesses.

The portfolio rose from $410.45 million at the end of 2025 to $131.35 million in December 2024. Its weighted-average yield increased from 19 per cent in 2024 to 21 per cent in 2025 and 22 per cent by June 2026.

Interest income consequently climbed by 196.4 per cent to $50.59 million in the first half of 2026, compared with $17.07 million in the corresponding period last year. The six-month earnings also exceeded the $47.26 million recorded throughout 2025.

Investment income accounted for 10.8 per cent of OPay’s revenue in the first half, up from 8.6 per cent a year earlier. Quarterly investment income increased from $22.05 million in the first quarter to $28.54 million in the second quarter.

The disclosure illustrates how elevated investment yields have become an important source of earnings for financial technology companies holding substantial cash balances. However, the returns also expose OPay to liquidity and counterparty risks that investors will need to assess ahead of its proposed public offering.

OPay said its investments include Nigerian treasury bills, money market funds and other liquid instruments managed through domestically licensed asset managers. Most investments mature within one year and are classified as held-to-maturity assets carried at amortised cost.

The company disclosed that yields on the underlying asset-manager products typically ranged between 14 and 24 per cent. It did not, however, identify the managers, provide individual placement amounts or separately quantify investments managed by third parties and securities held directly.

OPay also warned that access to funds could be delayed during periods of financial stress. Settlement of managed investment products generally takes between one and three business days, although contractual provisions and limited visibility into some underlying holdings could complicate withdrawals.

Counterparty risks include potential insolvency, misconduct or regulatory action affecting asset managers, custodians and settlement providers. The company further cautioned that falling investment returns could leave it responsible for covering shortfalls on savings products offering guaranteed returns, with possible implications for profitability, cash flow and regulatory capital.

Although the investment portfolio equalled about 54.4 per cent of customer savings balances, the filing did not establish that this proportion of customer funds was invested through asset managers. It also did not report any asset-manager default or investment loss.

OPay’s proposed American depositary shares are expected to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker OPAY, but the registration statement left the offer size and pricing undisclosed. The filing therefore does not establish that the IPO has been completed.

The company’s operating performance has also strengthened. Revenue rose by 136.5 per cent to $467.06 million in the first half of 2026, while net profit increased to $90.87 million from $21.71 million a year earlier. Nigeria generated 89.5 per cent of revenue during the period.

Full-year 2025 revenue stood at $536.25 million, with net profit of $72.47 million, compared with a loss of $50.83 million in 2024.

As OPay advances towards a possible listing, investors will be assessing not only its rapid revenue and profit growth but also the quality of its earnings, the security of its investment placements and its ability to meet customer withdrawals without disrupting operations.

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