Nigerian equities market yesterday began the trading week on a decline, to reverse the previous trading days’ positive trend, as investors lost N42billion.
The Nigerian Stock Exchange -All Share Index (NSE-ASI) shed 114.81 absolute points, representing a decline of 0.32 per cent to close at 35,311.36 points. Also, the market capitalisation declined by N42 billion to close at N12.891 trillion.
The negative performance was driven by profit taking in Dangote Cement, Unilever Nigeria, UAC of Nigeria, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria and Ikeja Hotel.
Despite yesterday decline, analysts at Afrinvest Limited said that “in subsequent sessions, we expect a positive performance as investors’ position in bellwethers with attractive entry prices.”
However, market breadth closed positive, with 26 gainers versus 14 losers. Diamond Bank and Niger Insurance recorded the highest price gain of 10 per cent each, to close at N1.21 and 44 kobo per share, respectively, while Flourmill Nigeria followed with a gain of 9.77 per cent to close at N23.60 per cent.
Linkage Assurance appreciated by 9.46 per cent to close at 81 kobo, while Jaiz Bank rose 8.33 per cent to close at 52 kobo per share.
On the other hand, First Aluminium led the losers’ chart by 10 per cent, to close at 36 kobo per share. Ikeja Hotel shed 9.68 per cent to close at N2.52, while Universal Insurance depreciated by 9.09 per cent to close at 40 kobo per share.
Japaul Oil declined by 7.69 per cent to close at 24 kobo and Secure Electronic Technology shed 4.76 per cent to close at 20 kobo per share.
The total volume traded depreciated by 66.12 per cent to 178.81 million shares, worth N2.02 billion, and traded in 2,981 deals. Transactions in the shares of Nigerian Aviation Handling Company topped the activity chart with 19.23 million shares valued at N73.05 million. Access Bank followed with 16.84 million shares worth N151.83 million, while Diamond Bank traded 13.23 million shares valued at N15.6 million.
United Bank for Africa traded 10.74 million shares valued at N87.19 million, while Zenith Bank transacted 10.47 million shares worth N230.41 million.
