Business
Shareholders Foresee Stability Of Equities On NSE
Some shareholders in the capital market on Friday said that stability would soon return to the market following impressive financial returns of quoted firms.
They said in Lagos that the impressive financial returns of companies would rekindle investors’ interest in the market.
Alhaji Gbadebo Olatokunbo, a member of the Nigeria Shareholders Solidarity Association, said that investors were gradually returning to the market due to improved dividends and bonuses.
Olatokunbo said that quite a number of companies had started paying dividends unlike in the past when quoted firms posted losses.
“Investors are beginning to see that there is light at the end of the tunnel after losing billions of naira in the market,” he said.
Olatokunbo, however, called on the Federal Government to pay more attention to the market, stressing that the market should be devoid of politics to retain investor confidence.
President of Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria (PSAN), Mr Boniface Okezie, attributed the recent growth of the market to change in leadership at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Okezie said that various initiatives and interaction between the management of SEC and stakeholders might have restored investor confidence.
He said that the Acting-Director General of the commission was using his experience as a stockbroker to ensure that outstanding market issues were settled.
Okezie said that confidence building was very important for the growth of the market.
Another shareholder, Mr James Osoka, said that the disagreement among the former management staff of SEC made investors to shun equities.
The capital market indices have been on the rise in the last two weeks.
The All-Share Index appreciated by 382.05 points or 1.7 per cent to close at 22,492.96 from 22,110.91 between July 6 and July 12.
Similarly, the market capitalisation, which opened for the week at N7.058 trillion rose by N122 billion or 1.7 per cent to close at N7.180 trillion on July 12.
Business
Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.