The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Wednesday returned to positive path with key market indicators appreciating marginally by 0.06 per cent on renewed interest in highly capitalised equities.
Specifically, the All Share Index (ASI) increased by 13.54 points, to close at 23,709.44 against 23,695.90 on Tuesday.
Accordingly, Month-to-Date gain increased to 3.0 per cent, as Year-to-Date losses moderated to -11.7 per cent.
Similarly, the market capitalisation, which opened at N12.349 trillion rose by N7 billion or 0.06 per cent to close at N12.356 trillion.
The uptrend was impacted by gains recorded in large and medium capitalised stocks, amongst which are: Mobil Nigeria, Total, Unilever, Stanbic IBTC Holdings and Guaranty Trust Bank.
“We expect a push up in activity in the next trading session to further strenghen today’s positive stance, as activity has dwindled consecutively into the mid-week,” analysts at APT Securities and Funds Limited said.
Market breadth closed positive, with 20 gainers versus eight losers.
Unilever Nigeria led the gainers chart in percentage terms, with growing 9.96 per cent, to close at N12.70 per share.
Mobil Nigeria followed with 9.94 per cent growth to close at N176.90, while May and Baker increased by 9.70 per cent to close at N2.94 per share.
NPF Microfinance Bank improved by 9.63 per cent to close at N1.48, while AXA Mansard Insurance appreciated by 8.23 per cent to close at N1.71 per share.
Conversely, Union Diagnostic & Clinical Services and Jaiz Bank led the losers’ chart in percentage terms deopping by 6.45 per cent each, to close at 29k and 58k per share, respectively.
Champion Breweries followed with a loss of 6.17 per cent to close at 76k per share.
AIICO Insurance lost 4.12 per cent to close at 93k, while Fidson Healthcare shed 2.85 per cent to close at N2.39 per share.
The total volume of shares traded showed that investors exchanged 159.24 million shares worth N1.54 billion transacted in 3,573 deals.
This was in contrast with a total of 155.75 million shares valued at N1.68 billion shares achieved in 4,005 deals on Tuesday.
Transactions in the shares of FBN Holdings topped the activity chart with 50.77 million shares valued at N242.086 million.
Access Bank followed with 10.85 million shares worth N68.61 million, while United Bank for Africa traded 9.79 million shares valued at N59.53 million.
Regency Alliance Insurance sold 7.53 million shares worth N1.51 million, while Zenith Bank transacted 7.41 million shares worth N111.80 million.
