Local equities appreciate by N220bn
Transactions on the floor of Nigerian Exchange on Thursday closed northward; appreciating by N220 billion as gains recorded in the heavyweight stocks lifted market activities.
Market capitalisation of listed equities increased by 0.17 per cent to N126.317 trillion from N126.097 trillion reported on Wednesday.
The NGX All Share Index also appreciated by 343.93 basis points to 196807.15 points from 196463.22 recorded the previous day.
Although market breath was negative with 38 decliners against 33 advancers, gains in the stocks of MTN Nigeria, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Zenith Bank, Eterna Plc, Cap Plc and others wipe out losses in the shares of TrippleG, Multiverse, Honey flour among others, bringing the year-to-date return to 26.47 per cent.
The volume of trades declined by 171.238 million, representing 21.27 per cent as investors traded 634.012 million shares against 805.250 million reported the previous day. Value of transactions also went down by 24.24 per cent to settle at N29.107 billion.
An analysis of the investment showed that Eterna Plc and NPF Micro Finance Bank led gainers table with 10 per cent each, to close at N38.50 and N7.15 per unit respectively, Premier Paint followed with a gain of 9.92 per cent to close at N13.30 per unit, Custodian Insurance added 9.71 per cent to close at N76.80 per unit, ETGInsurance increased by 9.68 per cent to close at N1.36 per unit.
On the contrary, TrippleG topped losers’ chart, dropping by 9.94 per cent to close at N4.26 per unit, Multiverse trailed with a loss of 9.91 per cent to close at N20.45 per share, Jaiz Bank dropped by 7.41 per cent to close at N10.00 per unit, Honey Well fell by 7.11 per cent to close at N20.90 per unit, Dangote sugar dipped by 7.30 per cent to close at N69.25 per unit.
Trading in the shares of Jaiz Bank on Thursday led market activities with 137.302 million shares valued at N141.161 million, GTCO Plc followed with account of 45.474 million shares cost N5.411 billion, Access Holdings company traded 29.744 million shares worth N714.756 million, Sovereign Trust Insurance traded 27.141 million shares cost N70.613 million while Zenith Bank sold a total of 24.340 million shares cost N2.243 billion.
