N8.7bn Financial Stocks Exchanged Hands in One Week

By Dipo Olowookere

A total turnover of 1.698 billion shares worth N57.895 billion in 24,328 deals were traded last week by investors on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in contrast to a total of 1.172 billion shares valued at N17.887 billion that exchanged hands the previous week in 18,380 deals.

During the five-day trading week, stocks in the financial services sector measured by volume led the activity chart with 1.121 billion shares valued at N8.708 billion traded in 13,380 deals, contributing 66.01 percent and 15.04 percent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

The ICT industry followed with 324.332 million shares worth N40.717 billion in 3,330 deals, while the third place was occupied by equities in the consumer goods sector with a turnover of 75.831 million shares worth N2.948 billion in 2,957 deals.

MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc measured by volume accounted for 726.103 million shares worth N41.622 billion in 4,972 deals, contributing 42.75 percent and 71.89 percent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

At the close of the week, All-Share Index (ASI) and market capitalisation appreciated by 6.96 percent to settle at 30,881.29 points and N13.602 trillion respectively.

All other indices finished lower with the exception of the NSE 30, NSE Premium, NSE Insurance,

NSE MERI Growth, NSE Lotus II and NSE Industrial Goods Indices that appreciated by 0.81 percent, 14.09 percent, 1.18 percent, 1.42 percent, 3.45 percent and 6.12 percent respectively.

Data released by the NSE indicated that a total 30 equities appreciated in price during the week, higher than 16 in the previous week.

Also, 40 equities depreciated in price, lower than 42 equities of the previous week, while 98 equities remained unchanged, lower than 109 equities recorded in the preceding week.

A total of 7,832 units of Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) valued at N48,890.00 executed in 6 deals compared with a total of 18,181 units valued at N215,365.64 transacted a week earlier in 4 deals, while a total of 1,389 units of Federal Government Bonds valued at N1.440 million were traded in the week in 14 deals compared with a total of 10,366 units valued at N9.783 million transacted the previous week in 9 deals