By Amaka Ifeakandu
Trading activities at the nation’s equity market yesterday returned to bearish trend as the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All Share Index (ASI) fell by 102.23 basis points. Specifically, the NSE ASI went down by 0.25 per cent to 41068.93 points from 41171.16 points recorded the previous day. Also the market capitalisation of listed equities decreased by N34 billion to N13.560 trillion from N13.594 trillion traded the previous day.
A review of the transactions during the day showed that investors exchanged a turnover of 317.766 million shares worth N4.193 billion in 5162 deals against 295.932 million shares valued at N5.429 billion in 6335 deals.
An analysis of the investment showed that Nestle Nigeria Plc topped losers chart, dropping by N20.00 to close at N1050.00, Nigerian Breweries Nigerian Plc trailed with a loss of N2.00 to close at N165.00 while Dangote Cement dropped by N0.81 kobo to close at N226.20 kobo. Other companies that recorded price depreciation were Zenith International Bank and Champion Breweries which loss N0.80 kobo and N0.59 kobo respectively to N24.00 and N11.26 kobo.
On the contrary, Seplat Petroleum Development led gainers table, growing N9.00 to close at N670.00, Conoil Plc followed with a gain of N2.96 kobo to close at N62.23 kobo while MRS Plc, Oando Plc and Ashaka Cement advanced by N2.83 kobo, N2.56 kobo and N1.37 kobo respectively to close at N59.44 kobo, N27.56 kobo and N28.88 kobo.
Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp) of the conglomerates sector was most active stock during the day, trading 47.950 million shares valued at N220.340 million.
First City Monument Bank (FCMB) of the other financial institutions sub- sector followed with exchanged 32.932 million shares worth N139.342 million while Access Bank Plc sold 24.251 million shares valued at N236.092 million. Oando Plc traded 23.306 million shares cost N642.115 million and Guaranty Trust Bank sold 22.967 million shares worth N667.623 million
