By Amaka Ifeakandu
Lagos
Trading activities on the floor of Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Monday opened the week in a positive trend as equity value appreciated by N246 billion. Specifically, the market capitalisation of listed equities increased by 2.54 per cent to N9.671 trillion against N9.917 trillion recorded the previous market day. Also the NSE All Share Index went up by 738.51 basis points to 29773.40 points from 29034.89.
A review of the transactions for the day showed that investors bought 426.248 million shares valued at N3.426 billion in 4391 deals against 261.305 million shares worth N2.870 billion in 4029 deals. An analysis of the investment indicated that Nestle Nigeria Plc led gainers table, appreciating by N39.60 kobo to close at N855.00, Nigerian Breweries followed with a gain of N7.00 to close at N146.00 while Zenith International Bank appreciated by N3.80 kobo to close at N79.80 kobo. UAC of Nigeria appreciated by N1.54 kobo to close at N32.52 kobo and Flour Mills Nigeria Plc grew by N1.36 kobo to close at N37.00.
On the contrary, Guinness Nigeria Plc topped losers chart, dropping by N4.00 to close at N126.00, Cadbbury Nigeria Plc trailed with a loss of N2.10 kobo to close at N39.90 kobo while CCNN depreciated by N0.89 kobo to close at N25.11 kobo. Other companies that recorded price depreciation were UPL and Stanbic IBTC which fell by N0.41 kobo and N0.38 kobo respectively to close at N3.81 kobo and N25.12 kobo.
Financial Service Sector led activities for the day exchanging 365.723 million shares worth N1.625 billion in 2530 deals. Banking sub sector was most active in the sector accounting for 141.839 million shares worth N1.174 billion in 1154 deals. Access Bank Plc traded the highest shares in the sub sector with account of 39.674 million shares worth N206.65 million in 243 deals.
Diamond Bank sold 28.351 million shares valued at N119.032 million in 14 deals and GTBank traded 23.115 million shares worth N453.619 million in 523 deals. Insurance Carrier, Brokerage and Services came second in the sector with account of 146.838 million shares valued at N74.229 million in 106 deals. Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc was investors delight, trading 141.537 million shares worth N70.768 million in five deals.
