By NKIRUKA NNOROM & CHINEDU IBEABUCHI

Transactions in Over-the-Counter, OTC, bonds market fell by 13 per cent in  2012  said the Central Securities Clearing System, CSCS.

“The value of Bond transactions in 2012 was N7.10 trillion as against N 7.99 trillion in 2011, representing a decrease of about 13.0%’, said Bukar, Managing Director/Chief Executive, and CSCS in a report on Friday.

“A total number of 65,319 deals were cleared in OTC (FGN) Bond market in 2011 as against 44,822 deals in 2012 representing a decrease of about 46.0 per cent. A total number of 44,360 deals were cleared in OTC Treasury Bills market in 2011 as against 58,091 deals in 2012 representing an increase of about 24.0 per cent.

The volume of transactions cleared and settled in OTC Bond market in 2012 was -7.35 billion units as against 8.95 billion units in 2011 representing a decrease of about 22.0%. The volume of transactions cleared and settled in Treasury Bills OTC market in 2012 was 14.70 billion units as against 11.16 billion units in 2011 representing an increase of 24.0%.

The value of Treasury Bills transactions in 2012 was N.92 trillion as against N.81 trillion in 2011 representing an increase of about 22.0%”.

On the value and volume of transactions in equities cleared in 2012, Kyari said, “For year 2012, CSCS cleared and settled transactions valued at N658,724,220,047.35 as against N634,916,949,795.95 in year 2011 thereby bringing about a .7% increase in cleared and settled transactions in the year under review.  It is interesting to note that since 1997 to 2012, CSCS has cleared and settled transactions worth N 16,972,470,648,065.00.

“For year 2012, the volume of cleared and settled transactions recorded by CSCS stood at ,178,066,129 units of shares as against ,576,615,611 units of shares in year 2011 thereby bringing about a .4% decrease in the volume of cleared and settled transactions in the year under review. From 1997 to December 31, 2012, CSCS has cleared and settled a total of 1,649,315,203,271.00.”

Kyari also reported that the number of shares certificate submitted for dematerialization dropped by half in 2012. He said, “ CSCS dematerialized 264,886 share certificates for year 2012 as against 530,140 share certificates in year 2011 resulting in a decrease of -50.04%. From 1997 to 2012, CSCS has thus far dematerialized 14,164,522 share certificates.”

Meanwhile,  value of equities listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE appreciated by N224 billion last week occasioned by gains on the prices of major blue chip equities.

Specifically, the market capitalization opened at N10.64 trillion, rising by 1.91 per cent, to close at N10.846 trillion.

Another market indicator, the All-Share Index increased by 636.63 points or 1.91 per cent to close at 33,895.08 points from 33,258.45 points.

A review of the equity price movements indicated that thirty-eight (38) equities gained while fifty-five (55) equities recorded price declines and one hundred and four (104) equities remained constant. When compared with the preceding week, fifty-one (51) equities gained while forty-two (42) equities recorded price declines and one hundred and four (104) equities remained constant.

Meanwhile, the volume of equities traded depreciated by 41.59 per cent, recording a turnover of 2.482 billion shares valued at N22.815 billion in 32,471 deals in contrast to a total of 4.249 billion shares valued at N23.177 billion that exchanged hands penultimate week in 39,391 deals.

The Financial Services sector was the most active during the week under review, contributing 69.14 per cent, 59.98 per cent, 58.39 per cent to the total equity turnover volume, value and number of trades respectively in 1.716 billion shares valued at N13.684 billion exchanged hands by investors in 18,961 deals.

In addition, 16,050 units of FGN bonds valued at N19.339 million were traded during the week in 66 deals in contrast to 6,460 units valued at N7.970 million transacted last week in 21 deals. However, there were no transactions in the State/Local Government Bonds and Corporate Bonds/Debentures sectors.