Equities market reversed previous position, drops 0.36%
By Kayode Ogunwale

 
The equities market reversed its previous position as bourse shed 0.36 per cent to put the year till date returns at -2.22 per cent.
The All Share Index (ASI) and market capitalization closed lower at 26,278.20 points and N9.042 trillion respectively.
The NSE ASI and all sector indices closed downward today save for NSE Banking Index, NSE Insurance Index, and NSE Industrial Index which added points while NSE Alternative Securities Market (ASem) closed flat.
Transactions on the bourse descended as total turnover of 371.868 million shares worth N1.714 billion in 3,522 deals were traded today by investors on the floor of the exchange.
Banking stocks were the toast of investors as Fidelity Bank Plc emerged the topmost traded stock with 107.989 million shares worth N99.905 million. Continental Reinsurance Plc followed with 43.072 million shares worth N47.253 million while Diamond Bank Plc was next with 37.492 million shares amounting to N45.681 million.
Sterling Bank Plc came fourth on the day’s activity chart having traded 25.292 million units of shares valued at N20.395 million while FBN Holdings Plc was fifth with 23.002 million shares worth N84.639 million.
The market breadth declined as 21 stocks declined in price while 18 stocks appreciated.
Unity Bank Plc led the gainers table by 5.08 per cent to close at N0.62 kobo per share, followed by Diamond Bank Plc with an increase of 5.04 per cent to close at N1.25 kobo per share. Vitafoam Plc grew 4.89 per cent to close at N1.05 kobo per share while Cement Company of Northern Nigeria Plc appreciated by 4.82 per cent to close at N4.35 kobo per share and FCMB Plc with 4.76 per cent gain to close at N1.32 kobo per share.
On the losers side table, 7-Up Bottling Company of Nigeria Plc declined by 5.00 per cent to close at N101.65 kobo, NEM Insurance Plc dropped 4.71 per cent to close at N0.81 kobo per share, NPF Microfinance Plc fell 4.55 per cent to close at N1.05 kobo per share, AG Leventis Plc losses 4.55 per cent to close at N0.84 kobo and Forte Oil Plc dropped 4.46 per cent to end the day with N70.30 kobo per share.