By Amaka Ifeakandu
Lagos
Transactions on the floor of Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday took downward trend following losses recorded by some blue chip companies. Specifically, the market capitalisation of listed equities declined by N25 billion or 0.18 per cent to N13.582 trillion from N13.607 trillion traded the previous day.
Also the NSE All Share Index fell by 74.35 basis points to 41135.75 from 41210.10 points recorded the previous day.
A review of the trading showed that investors bought 673.973 million shares worth N6.319 billion in 4967 deals against 1.079 billion shares valued at N8.084 billion exchanged on Tuesday by investors in 4894 deals.
An analysis of the investment indicated that Financial Service Sector led daily activities for the day, trading 413.186 million shares valued at N4.492 billion in 2845 deals. Banking sub-sector was most active for the day with account of 289.330 million shares valued at N3.378 billion in 1922 deals. Skye Bank was most active in the subsector with a total of 106.553 million shares cost N287.757 million in 284 deals.
Zenith International Bank sold 49.093 million shares worth N1.197 billion in 280 deals and GTBank exchanged 38.242 million shares valued at N1.154 billion in 468 deals. Other financial service followed with account of 104.614 million shares valued at N1.078 billion in 804 deals.
FBN Holdings boosted activities in the sub sector accounting for 66.854 million shares worth N903.777 million in 530 deals.
Further analysis showed that Stanbic IBTC led gainers table, growing by N1.40 kobo to close at N35.00, Champion Breweries followed with a gain of N1.15 kobo to close at N20.00 while Unilever Nigeria Plc, Nigeirian Breweries and Betaglass appreciated by N1.14 kobo, N1.09 kobo and N1.03 kobo respectively to close at N47.99 kobo, N177.00 and N11.21 kobo.
On the other hand Nestle Nigeria Plc topped losers chart, dropping by N39.97 kobo to close at N1050.03 kobo, Guinness Nigeria Plc trailed with a loss N10.74 kobo to close at N204.24 kobo while Seplat Petroleum Development loss N5.00 to close at N640.00. Other companies depreciated in price were PZ Industries and Dangote Cement which dropped by N1.75 kobo and N1.16 kobo respectively to close at N33.00 and N220.84 kobo.
