Equities market appreciates by N9bn

The domestic equities market opened the week and month on a positive note, appreciating by N9 billion as gains recorded in the shares of Aradel, Zenith Bank Mutual Benefits lifted trading for the day.

Market capitalisation of listed equities added 0.01 per cent to N106.162 trillion from N106.153 trillion recorded the previous day.

The NGX All Share Index also increased by 13.18 basis points to 165383.58 points from 165370.40 points reported the previous day.

Although the transactions during the day recorded 44 decliners against 29 advancers, gains recorded in the shares of Aradel, Zenith, Morison industry among others outweigh losses in the shares of Uhomreits, Mansard Insurance, Deap Capital, bringing year to date return to 6.28 per cent.

Volume of trades increased 75.365 million, representing 10.26 per cent to 762.751 million shares against 687.386 million units of shares reported on Friday.Value of transactions grew by 22.86 per cent to settle at N18.409 billion in 55374 deals.

A review of trading during the day showed that Premium Paint and Universal Insurance led gainers table with 10 per cent each to close at N11.00 and N1.30 per unit respectively. Daar Communications followed with a gain of 9.93 per cent to close at N1.55 per unit, RTBriscoe added 9.92 per cent to close at N8.64 per unit, Morrison industry added 9.9 per cent to close at N10.98 per unit.

On the contrary, Omatek topped losers’ chart, dropping by 10 per cent to close at N2.70 per unit, UHomreit trailed with a loss of 9.96 per cent to close at N85.40 per unit, Mansard Insurance dipped by 9.94 per cent to close at N14.31 per share, Deap Capital fell by 9.90 per cent to close at N8.46 per unit, C& I Leasing declined by 9.80 per cent to close at N6.90 per share.

Trading in the shares of Tantalizer led market activities with 88.488 million shares valued at N329.387 million, Zenith Bank followed with account of 40.187 million shares valued at N2.873 million, Veritas Kapital traded 39.211 million shares valued at N92.109 million, Universal Insurance traded 29.297 million shares cost N38.074 million while First Holdco exchanged 27.634 million shares cost N1.133 billion.