NSE to attracts more fixed income, review bond listing, trading fees

 
To attracts more listing to the nation’s premier stock exchange, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has reviewed its listing and trading fees for securities listed and traded on its fixed income market.

The Director General of the apex capital market regulator in Nigeria, the Securities and Exchange Commission, Mounir Gwarzo on Wednesday canvassed for more listing of the companies on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, FMDQ and NASD trading platform.
He emphasized on review of various fees charging by the trio trading platform provider to accommodate more companies.

Under the revised fee structure, the NSE will no longer charge trading fees on fixed income traded on its platform as against 0.0001 per cent charging currently. The initial flat listing application fees of 0.15 per cent for all bond types has been replaced with variable listing application fees. With this, corporate bonds exclusively listed on the NSE, with existing equity listing, will attract 0.01 per cent listing application fee. Dual listed corporate bonds with existing equity listing and other corporate bonds will attract 0.0375 per cent listing application fees. Similarly, the listing application fees for state and supranational bonds has been reduced to 0.05 per cent.

The NSE also replaced the fixed brokerage commission of 0.0005 per cent with a negotiable rate capped at 1 per cent. This will enable investors negotiate trading commission with brokerage firms, thus driving competition and best execution.

The bourse said, the revised fee structure will be piloted for an initial six month period starting from August 17, 2016, thereafter the evaluated to determine if it has met its objectives.

Speaking on this development, the Executive Director, Capital Markets, NSE, Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri, noted that the fee reduction in the NSE fixed income market is in line with the Exchange’s commitment to boost market efficiency. “The reduction in listing application fees gives issuers opportunity to raise their profile and increase visibility through listing on a globally recognized Exchange with the highest regulatory standards. The aim is to reduce issuers cost of accessing long term capital and to provide investors with diverse investment products at competitive trading fees”.

Mr. Jalo-Waziri described the investment opportunities in the Nigerian capital market as huge, urging issuers to raise cheap long term capital through bond issuance for business expansion, project finance, loan refinancing and investors to be more active in the bonds segment.

“NSE remains committed to building an enduring marketplace and will continue to pursue initiatives that add value to issuers and investors”, he added.