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Saturday, July 25, 2020 08:00 AM / Proshare Content / Header Image Credit: EcoGraphics
Nigeria: Economic Dashboard @ 240720
Editor's Pick
Source: Cordros Weekly Economic and Market Report - July 24, 2020
Global Economy
After
more than four days of negotiations, European Union (EU) leaders finally agreed
on a landmark stimulus package worth EUR750 billion (USD860 billion) to pull
their economies out of recession (IMF 2020E: -10.2%) and tighten the financial
bonds holding their 27 nations together. Taking the previously passed stimulus
package of EUR500 billion into consideration, the total stimulus passed now
stands at EUR1.25 trillion (c.17.0%
less than the EUR1.50 trillion euros the ECB said the bloc may need to tackle
the crisis). The emergency fund will give out EUR360 billion of low-interest
loans and EUR390 billion of grants. This agreement comes at a critical moment
when the global pandemic is taking its toll on the continent with the death
toll among the European citizens edging above 145,000. We believe opting for a mixture of grant
and loans will reduce the burden of already over-indebted countries such as
Italy and Greece while also providing ample time for repayment of the
interest-bearing loans, which is expected to end in 2058. The agreement also
sends a strong signal of unity among the 27 countries and should strengthen the
market's belief in more integration.
The U.S jobless claims rose for the first time since March, underlining the
economic pain from renewed COVID containment measures in many states. Initial
claims through the regular state programs rose to 1.42 million in the week
ended July 18, up 109,000 from the prior week and greater than the consensus
forecast of 1.3 million. The Census Bureau's weekly Household Pulse survey also
showed the number of employed Americans dropped by c. 6.7 million from mid-June
through mid-July, representing a pause sign in the economic recovery of the
largest economy in the world as COVID-19 cases surge in the country and force
businesses to close their doors once again. Amidst renewed containment measures, retail sales and
employment are likely to post declines in July. Compounded by the expiration of
the USD600/week federal jobless benefits imminent, the outlook for the US
economy in H2-20 is bleak.
Global
markets were broadly negative, as investor sentiment weakened on the back of
escalating tensions between the U.S. and China, and weak economic data from the
U.S. and falling Eurozone consumer confidence. US (DJIA: -0.1%; S&P: +0.3%)
and European (STOXX Europe: -1.7%; FTSE 100: -2.9%) stocks looked set to record
weekly losses. Asian markets were mixed as Japanese (Nikkei 225: +0.2%) stocks
closed marginally higher on positive vaccine news in the holiday-shortened
week, Chinese (SSE: -0.5%) stocks closed lower on growing Sino - U.S. tensions.
Despite the preceding, emerging markets (MSCI EM: +2.1%) shares were still set
to end the week higher after a massive stimulus agreement between EU leaders
and positive developments from a wave of coronavirus vaccine candidates.
Frontier markets (MSCI FM: -1.9%) stocks were set to close lower, as the
benchmark Vietnamese Index (-5.0%) dropped by the most in more than a month
after a report signalling the first possible local transmission of the novel
coronavirus since April 16.
Nigeria
The
Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) in its last meeting retained the MPR at 12.5%.
All other monetary policy parameters were also held constant - the asymmetric
corridor around the MPR was maintained at +200bps/-500bps; CRR at 27.5% and
Liquidity Ratio at 30.0%. The committee reiterated that choices remained
limited. Tightening, in recognition of increased upside risk to inflation and
mounting external sector pressures, would be counterintuitive, as it will
further constraint economic growth; while a rate cut is unnecessary and may not
necessarily lead to a corresponding decrease in market interest rates, given
the weak transmission of monetary policy changes to the real economy and the
current economic challenges. The
risks to economic growth, especially during the current pandemic, will continue
to dominate the body language of the monetary authorities, and as such, guides
towards prioritizing and sustaining its expansionary policy drive. Against that
backdrop, we do not rule out a further 100bps benchmark rate cut towards the
end of the year or in the first quarter of 2021.
According to the CBN, Nigerian banks are restructuring 41% of their total
outstanding loans (H1-20: NGN18.90 trillion), which represents NGN7.80 trillion
granted to 35,640 clients across the economy, and will allow the banks to
change the terms of such loans without classifying them as non-performing. This
comes at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has brought credit challenges to
major sectors of the Nigerian economy, thus exposing the banks to increasing
NPLs. particularly in the oil & gas, hospitality, and manufacturing sectors.
We see this as positive
for the banks, as it gives them ample time to recover their funds without
necessarily affecting bottom line as well as Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR). We
note, however, that this will enable banks to keep their cost of funds at low
levels thereby reducing the real value of money for the fund providers.
Sentiments
remained weak in the domestic market amidst rising COVID-19 cases in the
country as well as persisting FX illiquidity. However, a one-off gain on
Thursday, driven by a surge DANGCEM (+6.5%), led the domestic bourse to its
largest weekly gain in seven weeks. Thus, the All-Share Index advanced by 0.6%
w/w, to 24,427.73 points, also supported by gains in MTNN (+1.7%) and STANBIC
(+3.5%). Notably, the Month-to-Date and Year-to-Date losses moderated to -0.2%
and -9.0%, respectively. Analysing by sectors, the Oil & Gas (-4.7%) index
led the losses, followed by the Insurance (-0.8%), Banking (-0.6%) and Consumer
Goods (-0.4%) indices. The Industrial Goods (+0.6%) index was the sole gainer
for the week.
Our view continues to
favour cautious trading owing to the fact the gains recorded this week were not
broad-based. We reiterate that risks remain on the horizon due to a combination
of the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Nigeria and weak economic
conditions. Thus, we continue to advise investors to seek trading opportunities
in only fundamentally justified stocks.
The
overnight (OVN) rate plunged 19.5ppts to 2.2% as inflows from FAAC
disbursements to state and local governments (NGN430.03 billion), FGN bond
coupon payments (NGN94.42 billion) and OMO maturities (NGN25.36 billion)
boosted system liquidity, and outweighed outflows for FGN bond auction debits
(NGN178.52 billion).
We expect an expansion in
the OVN next week, as expected inflows from FGN bond coupon payments (NGN49.61
billion) may not be sufficient to support liquidity, especially if the conducts
an OMO auction.
Trading
activities picked up in the Treasury bills secondary market, on the back of the
healthy liquidity in the system. Thus, the average yield across all instruments
contracted by 68bps to 4.0%. The overall market was majorly impacted by the OMO
segment (-96bps to 4.6%), as reduced funding pressures for local banks buoyed
participation, amid weak participation from FPIs. At the NTB segment (-17bps to
1.8%), retail demand continues to support activities despite the abysmal yield
in the space.
In the coming week, the
expected strain in system liquidity should impede the demand for instruments in
the space. At the NTB segment, we expect market participants to switch focus to
the primary market where the CBN will be rolling over maturing bills worth
NGN256.95 billion.
Trading
in Treasury bonds secondary market was bullish, as investors re-invested
maturities and coupon payments, and looked to cover lost bids at the PMA. Thus,
the average yield contracted by 50bps to 7.3%. At the PMA, the DMO offered
instruments worth NGN130.00 billion to investors through three re-openings - 12.50% JAN 2026 (Bid-to-offer: 2.9x; Stop rate: 6.00%), 12.50% MAR 2035
(Bid-to-offer: 1.7x; Stop rate: 9.50%) and 12.98% MAR 2050 (Bid-to-offer: 5.9x;
Stop rate: 9.95%) -, and a new issue - 9.80% MAR 2050 (Bid-to-offer: 3.7x; Stop
rate: 9.80%) -, which has the second-lowest coupon rate in the Treasury bonds
market. Despite a total subscription of NGN470.13 billion, the DMO eventually
allotted instruments worth NGN177.00 billion, resulting in a bid-cover ratio of
2.7x.
Next week, we expect
investors in the Treasury bonds market to continue to cherry-pick due to the
relatively attractive yields in the space.
The
CBN's foreign reserves sustained its descent as FX outflows continue to outpace
inflows, thus dipping by USD86.69 million w/w to USD36.00 billion. Nonetheless,
the naira weakened against the US dollar by 0.3% w/w to NGN389.50/USD at the
I&E window, and by 0.4% to NGN472.00/USD at the parallel market. In the
forwards market, the naira weakened against the US dollar across the 1-month
(-0.3% to NGN391.38/USD), 3-month (-0.4% to NGN395.16/USD), 6-month (-0.6% to
NGN400.14/USD) and 1-year (-1.1% to NGN418.10/USD) contracts.
Despite the CBN's stronger
commitment towards exchange rate unification, we still see legroom for the
currency to depreciate further, at least towards its REER derived fair value.
Our prognosis is hinged on (1) the widening current account (CA) position, (2)
currency mispricing, which could induce speculative attacks on the naira, and
(3) the resumption of FX sales to the BDC segment of the market which should
place an additional layer of pressure on the reserves as the CBN funds the
backlog of unmet FX demand.
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Previous Week(s) Market Outlook
1. What to Expect from The Markets This Week - 200720
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3. What to Expect from The Markets This Week - 060720
4. What to Expect from The Markets This Week - 290620
5. What to Expect from The Markets This Week - 220620
Latest Reports This Past Week
2.
Average Prices of 1kg of Tomato Increased By 30.25%
YoY in June 2020 - NBS
3.
Average Fare for Bus Journey Within City Increased By
3.36% MoM to N229.94 in June 2020 - NBS
4.
NBS Publishes COVID-19 Impact Monitoring Survey Report for
June 2020
5.
Nigeria's Total Public Debt Stood At N28.63trn in Q1 2020
- NBS
6. NBS Publishes National Living Standard Survey 2018-19
Report
7. Active Voice Subscription Grew By 2.48% in Q1 2020 -
NBS
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Amid Positive Market Breadth
3. Investors Lose N9.43bn as NSEASI Dips by -0.07% to Open
the Week Negative
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