Mid-week trading soars with marginal N18bn
By Kayode Ogunwale
THE equities segment of the Nigerian stock market overturned from previous trading session loss amidst investors’ sentiment.
The bourse gained N14 billion, represented 0.15 per cent to peg the year till date returns at -1.82 per cent.
The index and market capitalization closed higher at 26,386.24 basis points and N9.065 trillion respectively.
Transactions on the bourse descended as total turnover of 197.449 million shares worth N1.049 billion in 3,410 deals were traded today by investors on the floor of the exchange representing 16.04 per cent decline from the previous trading level of 372.853 million shares valued at N1.333 billion that exchanged hands in 4,068 deals.
Banking stocks also retained their positions at the top of activity chart, as Union Bank Plc emerged the topmost traded stock with 170.594 million shares worth N34.122 million. Diamond Bank Plc followed with 27.968 million shares worth N27.226 million while Transnational Incorporation of Nigeria Plc was next with 22.600 million shares amounting to N20.359 million.
FBN Holdings Plc came fourth on the day’s activity chart having traded 19.721 million units of shares valued at N72.254 million while FCMB Plc was fifth with 14.301 million shares worth N18.084 million.
The market breadth ratio ascended to 1.19 indicating 16 decliners as against 19 advancers compared to 25 decliners and 19 advancers during Tuesday trading.
Okomu Oil Palm Plc led the gainers table by 10.21 per cent to close at N44.27 kobo per share, followed by Presco Plc with an increase of 10.20 per cent to close at N44.19 kobo per share. Airline Services and Logistics Plc grew 4.98 per cent to close at N2.74 kobo per share while May & Baker Plc appreciated by 4.44 per cent to close at N0.94 kobo per share.
On the losers side table, Guinness Nigeria Plc declined by 6.38 per cent to close at N74.90 kobo, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc dropped 4.98 per cent to close at N36.66 kobo per share, UCA-Property Plc fell 4.76 per cent to close at N3.00 kobo per share and Fidson Healthcare Plc dropped 4.72 per cent to end the day with N1.21 kobo per share.