Trading activities in the nation’s stock market extended gains for the second consecutive session as the benchmark Index ended 0.78% stronger to close at 71,808.64 points. The performance was primarily driven by gains in MTNN (+0.25%), ZENITHBANK (+3.44%) and GTCO (+0.51%) offsetting losses in DANGSUGAR(-0.09%), WAPCO (-0.33%) and TRANSCORP (-1.29%). As a result, the ASI year-to-date (YTD) increased to 40.11%, while market capitalization gained ₦305.61bn to close at ₦39.30trn.

Analysis of today’s market activities showed trade turnover settled higher relative to the previous session, with the value of transactions up by 8.88%. A total of 690.01m shares valued at ₦12.10bn were exchanged in 8,412 deals. GTCO (+0.51%) led both the volume and value chart with 76.70m units traded in deals worth ₦3.04bn.

Market breadth closed positive at a 1.70-to-1 ratio with advancing issues outnumbering declining ones. THOMASWY (+9.93%) topped thirty-three (33) others on the leader’s table while MANSARD (-9.69%) led nineteen (19) others on the laggard’s log.