Dangote among the highest loser on the stock Exchange market over coronavirus 

Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote on Wednesday lost more than N240 billion in five hours as the effect of the coronavirus bit harder on the Stock Exchange.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday declared coronavirus a pandemic.

A pandemic is a disease that is spreading in multiple countries around the world at the same time.

Some of Dangote’s firms under the parent company, Dangote Group, suffered big losses at the market.

Investors have suffered a total of N1.41 trillion loss in the last three days to the pandemic which is wreaking havoc across the world.

Benchmark equities indices indicated an average decline of 3.4 per cent on Wednesday, which is equivalent to net capital depreciation of N426 billion. The equities lost N985 billion between Monday and Tuesday.

Dangote Cement Plc, the flagship of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), led the decline with the maximum daily allowable drop of 10 per cent or N17, which is equivalent to net depreciation of N289.68 billion. Dangote Cement is Nigeria’s most capitalized quoted company and accounts for more than 20 per cent of the total market capitalization.

Two other members of the Dangote Group, Dangote Sugar Refinery (DSR) Plc and NASCON Allied Industries Plc lost N1.8 billion and N3.05 billion. Dangote Cement’s share price dropped by N17 from N170 to close at N153.  NASCON Allied Industries declined by N1.15 to close at N3.05 while DSR lost 15 kobo to close at N9.75 per share.

Allaying public fears about development in the market, the Association of Securities Dealing Houses of Nigeria (ASHON) assured investors that the market would soon bounce back.

It said the fundamentals of quoted companies remained strong.

ASHON chairman Chief Oyinyechukwu Ezeagu explained that the stock market remained part of the global exchanges and as such any development in the world market would impact on its operations.

Ezeagu said: “The effect of the coronavirus is gradually affecting trading all over the world and whatever happens elsewhere reflects in our market.

“The centre of it all is China and is a major world power both in production and consumption capacities, any ill wind affecting China would naturally cause big sneezing to the rest of the world.

“Investors should not panic. The share prices will bounce back. The companies’ fundamentals remain strong. Many investors are taking advantage of the bearish run to beef up their portfolios.”

Coronavirus first hit Wuhan in China in December 2019. Over 3000 people have died of the pandemic in the country.

Since then, the pandemic has spread worldwide with countries in Europe mostly affected. About 125,000 cases have been reported worldwide with 4,605 dead. United States (U.S.) has 31 deaths and the United Kingdom, eight.

Italy is the worst-hit country in Europe with 827 deaths. Over 16 million people have been quarantined there.

France has suspended flights between it and Italy till April 3 because of the pandemic.

In Nigeria, two persons, including an Italian, who is the index case, are in quarantine in Lagos. Six others comprising four children, their teacher and another person are in isolation, according to Commissioner for Health Prof. Akin Abayomi.

Content: The Nation