ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – The Nigerian stock market halted prior 3-day downtrend to gain 0.07 per cent at the end of yesterday trading.
The lead indicator, All-Share Index gained 18.81 absolute points or 0.07 per cent to close at 27,522.62 points. Similarly, the market capitalization gained N7 billion to close at N9.454 trillion.
The upturn was mainly imparted by value appreciation recorded by the following large capitalised stocks, Wapco, Unilever Nigeria, Guinness Nigeria, Seplat and Nigeria Breweries.
Market breadth strengthened from previous day trading with 17 gainers and 18 losers. Skye Bank led the gainers table by 4.62 per cent to close at 68 kobo per share. May & Baker followed with a gain of 4.60 per cent to close at 91 kobo, while Diamond Bank advanced by 4.35 per cent to close at N1.20 per share.
While Wapco went up by 3.02 per cent to close at N58 and Union Bank rose by 2.76 per cent to close at N4.10 per share.
On the other hand, Seven Up and Vitafoam led the laggards’ table by 5 per cent each to close at N137.66 and N2.85 per share, respectively. Nahco trailed with a loss of 4.86 per cent to close at N3.33.
Also, African Prudential declined by 4.64 per cent to close at N2.26, while African Paints shed by 4.63 per cent to close at N2.46 per share.
Meanwhile, the total volume traded appreciated by 67.3 per cent to 295.71 million shares, valued at N3.59 billion, and traded in 3,709 deals. Transactions in the shares of Guaranty Trust Bank topped the activity chart with 68.95 million shares valued at N1.86 billion. Access Bank followed with 30.76 million shares worth N166.34 billion, while Fidelity Bank traded 26.96 million shares valued at N24.56 million.
UBA traded 26.62 million shares worth N120.73 and Zenith Bank transacted 23.14 million shares valued at N162.34.