Nigeria, Jan. 26 -- Last week, Nigerian stocks recorded their first weekly loss of the year as the benchmark share index slightly fell by 0.4 per cent. Profit taking in consumer goods and bank stocks triggered the slide.

Activity also dropped, compared to the previous week, with trading volume diminishing by 18.6 per cent.

"Attention is expected to gradually shift toward upcoming corporate earnings positioning, with investors beginning to tilt portfolios toward companies that show clear earnings visibility and reliable dividend potential," analysts at Meristem Securities said ahead of the week.

"Early earnings-related positioning should help keep demand alive, particularly in stocks where fundamentals still justify current prices," the...