Equity Market Records Gains, Performance Indices Up 1.92%

The Nigerian Exchange Ltd. (NGX) began trading on a positive note on Monday as the All-Share Index rose strongly by 1.92 percent or 1,597.93 points.

Specifically, the All-Share Index settled at 84,640.89, compared to 83,042.96 achieved on Friday. Also, investors gained N874 billion as the market capitalization grew by 1.92 percent to close at N46.316 trillion, compared to N45.442 trillion recorded on Friday.

As a result, the Year-To-Date (YTD) return rose to 13.20 percent, while the market breadth closed positive with 46 equities on the gainer’s table and 19 others on the loser’s. Buying interests in industrials such as Dangote Cement, BUA Cement, and Zenith Bank grew the market shares.

Specifically, 807.51 million shares valued at N11.03 billion were exchanged in 13,647 deals, compared to 600.63 million shares valued at N9.10 billion exchanged in 11,697 deals at the previous trade. However, Transcorp led the activity chart in volume with 66.89 million shares worth N956 million, followed by AIICO Insurance with 62.29 million shares valued at N789.89 million.

Wema Bank also sold 41.57 million at N387.92 million, Jaiz Bank transacted 39.19 million shares worth N128.01 million, while First City Monument Bank (FCMB) traded 38.14 million shares valued at N423.12 million shares. On the gainer’s chart, Chams, Axa Mansard, PZ, Tantalizer, and Daar Communications led in percentage terms of 10 each to close at N2.53, N6.49, N32.45, 55k, and 99k per share, respectively.

Conversely, on the loser’s chart, Abbey Mortgage Bank Plc led by 9.52 percent to close at N2.47 per share, followed by Julius Berger by 3.54 percent to close at N54.50 per share. Custodian Insurance trailed by 3.45 percent to close at N9.80 per share, while Africa Prudential Plc shed 2.78 percent to close at N8.75 per share.

Also, FBNH lost 1.79 percent to close at N27.50 per share. Meanwhile, market breadth closed positive, with 66 advancing equities outnumbering eight declining ones. Analysis of the market activities indicated that trade turnover settled lower relative to the previous session, while the value of transactions went down by 36.88 percent.

(NAN)