BY VETIVA
What formed the previous week?
International: International investor sentiment was blended this week, in preparation for the Q1’22 earnings season. In Asia, focus was on the most recent financial information out of Japan and China, in addition to statements from Chinese language authorities officers. President Xi Jinping of China introduced that the federal government will preserve its COVID-19 coverage and preserve all present restrictions in place as they fight the unfold of the an infection. In one other assertion, native media cited the China’s cupboard as saying it could well timed use financial coverage instruments and different measures to spice up consumption. For the week, the Japanese Nikkei gained 1.05%, whereas the Shanghai Composite eased -0.34%. Shifting to Europe, investor sentiment was extra upbeat as main markets within the area closed effectively within the inexperienced w/w, regardless of the discharge of underwhelming inflation information out of the UK. On Wednesday, the Workplace for Nationwide Statistics reported, the UK’s Shopper Worth Index (CPI) elevated by 7% in March y/y. Lastly, on Thursday the European Central Financial institution’s (ECB) Governing Council introduced that it could go away rates of interest unchanged. For the week, the German Dax eased 0.36% whereas the French CAC and Amsterdam AEX rose 1.75% and 0.54% respectively. Lastly, shifting to the USA, banking earnings began to roll in on the tail-end of the week. Goldman Sachs noticed Q1’22 income are available at $12.93 billion, whereas Morgan Stanley noticed Q1’22 income beat expectations at $14.9 billion. Citigroup noticed income fall 2% q/q to $19.1 billion, with Wells Fargo Q1’22 income shedding 5% q/q to $17.6 billion. For the week, the NASDAQ and SP500 had been down 2.16% and 1.29%, whereas the Dow Jones was up 0.12% at time of writing.
Home Financial system: The Senate permitted President Buhari’s request to extend gas subsidy to ₦4 trillion. The rise was a results of the spike within the touchdown price of PMS exacerbated by geopolitical tensions. This permitted request substantiates our views that social dissent and election issues might stop the present administration from eradicating gas subsidies in 2022. With the retention of gas subsidies, we’ll proceed to commerce off assets that might be allotted to productive capital tasks. This might worsen Nigeria’s fiscal sustainability ratios, whilst Nigeria struggles to mobilize income and comprise prices.
Equities: Nigerian equities ended the week on a constructive observe, as broad-based features noticed the NGX rise 1.99% w/w, led by features noticed within the Banking sector. Within the banking house, ZENITHBANK led gainers rising 8.70% w/w because the sector rose 5.59% w/w. Positive factors within the house had been broad based mostly, with FIDELITYBK and GTCO rising 8.15% and 6.52% respectively. Shifting to the Shopper Items house, features in NB (+11.82% w/w) and HONYFLOUR (+5.49% w/w) primarily drove the features witnessed within the sector because it rose 1.89% w/w. Likewise, within the Oil and Gasoline house, traders stay eager on SEPLAT, because the oil explorer noticed its inventory value rise 2.60%, this helped the sector rise 1.59% w/w, with the constructive sentiment filtering by way of the house. Lastly, curiosity in JBERGER (+5.18% w/w) and WAPCO (+5.00% w/w) helped the Industrial Items sector rise 1.55% w/w.
Mounted Earnings: This week, the fastened earnings market remained largely bearish, with pockets of buy-side exercise seen on choose days. Within the bond market, we noticed selloffs dominate the benchmark curve because of this, common yield rose 5bps w/w. In the meantime, buying and selling within the NTB market was tepid all through the week, regardless of the PMA that held on Wednesday. On the public sale, the CBN maintained charges on the 91DTM (1.74%) and 182DTM (3.00%) tenors, whereas the 364DTM invoice noticed a 15bps price hike to 4.6% (earlier: 4.45%). Lastly, as traders sought to create liquidity, we noticed sell-offs within the OMO house. Consequently, common yield within the house rose 14bps w/w.
Forex: The Naira depreciated by ₦0.04 on the I&E FX Window to shut at ₦416.67
What’s going to form markets within the coming week?
Fairness market: Regardless of at present’s revenue taking within the banking sector, the NGXBNK closed because the week’s greatest performing sector with a 5.59% acquire. We anticipate to see additional revenue taking in that house going into the brand new week amid this week’s file acquire. We anticipate Q1 outcomes of some firms to hit the market subsequent week, and we anticipate this to drive market sentiments as effectively.
Mounted Earnings: To open subsequent week, we anticipate the bonds market to commerce in an analogous sample, resulting from a scarcity of catalysts to sway exercise. In the meantime, we anticipate bearish buying and selling within the NTB section, as traders react to the speed hike on the one-year paper.
Forex: We anticipate the naira to stay largely secure throughout the varied home windows of the forex house because the CBN maintains interventions within the FX market.
International Trade – SSA Currencies: Survival of the fittest
In Q1’22, the Russian invasion of Ukraine was an enormous story. This, mixed with the Fed’s price hike, had quite a few penalties for our protection currencies: greater export earnings (Angola), greater import payments (Kenya), restricted entry to the worldwide debt market (Ghana), various demand sources for Russian exports (South Africa), and the power to lift exterior financing (Nigeria).
In Nigeria, the apex financial institution launched a brand new provide administration coverage (RT 200 FX) to spice up non-oil export inflows to the economic system. On this report, we reviewed the influence of comparable post-COVID FX insurance policies and found that whereas most had no constructive influence on the change price, constructive returns from a number of insurance policies fizzled out after six months.
Going ahead, we imagine the efficiency of SSA currencies in Q2’22 might regularly be influenced by international financial coverage, geopolitics, and COVID-19 developments. We nonetheless see room for election-related weak spot within the Kenyan Shilling and the Nigerian Naira. The Angolan Kwanza, which can also be uncovered to election-related danger, might be shielded by greater oil costs and rates of interest. Excessive commodity costs might regularly help the Angolan Kwanza and the South African Rand. The Ghanaian Cedi might take a breather ought to the apex financial institution preserve the true price of return constructive by adjusting the coverage price as inflation rises.
SSA Outlook: NDFs level to weaker currencies in Q2’22
In Q2, the escalation of Ukraine-Russia tensions might preserve oil costs above $100 per barrel (Bull case: $110/barrel). We observe that whereas the discharge of oil from the strategic reserves of the USA might enhance provide to an extent, this is able to be inadequate to subdue oil costs. The Worldwide Power Company (IEA) has confirmed that Biden’s reserve plan (1 million b/d) could exchange solely a 3rd of misplaced manufacturing from Russia (3 million b/d) in April. This leaves a 2 million b/d deficit. Nevertheless, a potential whole lift-off of sanctions on Iran might see oil provide rise by 3.8 million b/d. Whereas this might cowl the shortfall, the probability of outright lift-off is slim, given the continuing in depth negotiations. On the flip aspect, we imagine the outbreak of a deadlier variant of COVID-19 might be the last word oil value depressant, which might be heralded by the present international rest of COVID-related restrictions and zero-COVID technique in China.
Given this backdrop and judging by market expectations, which is proxied by non-deliverable forwards (NDFs), the outlook for SSA currencies stays bearish. This mirrors the expectation that greater US rates of interest and better oil costs might induce risk-off sentiments and weaker currencies. Ought to the US enhance rates of interest, the financial authorities in South Africa and Ghana might brace for extra aggressive price hikes to subdue inflation and exterior pressures.
Particularly, we see room for election-related stress on each the Kenyan Shilling and the Nigerian Naira as each economies are in an electioneering season. Fee hikes might not be politically beneficial, however they could be essential to cushion exterior pressures and induce capital flows. Angola, which is equally in an electioneering season, might retain its successful streak on account of upper oil costs, forex liberalization, and excessive rates of interest. Nevertheless, fading demand from China might be a key danger ought to widespread lockdowns re-emerge.
While affordable care has been taken in making ready this doc to make sure the accuracy of details said herein and that the scores, forecasts, estimates and opinions additionally contained herein are goal, affordable and truthful, no accountability or legal responsibility is accepted both by Vetiva Capital Administration Restricted or any of its staff for any error of truth or opinion expressed herein.
