By Dipo Olowookere
The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited depreciated by 0.07 per cent on Monday following the resumption of profit-taking by investors as they try to monitor macroeconomic conditions in the country.
The decline suffered yesterday was majorly caused by shares in the consumer goods, industrial goods and energy sectors, though financial equities also had a pocket of sell-offs, especially in FBN Holdings and Access Holdings.
Data obtained by Business Post showed that Conoil recorded the highest fall during the session as its value went down by 9.90 per cent to N25.95. Red Star Express lost 9.09 per cent to N2.50, RT Briscoe also depreciated by 9.09 per cent to 40 Kobo, Cutix dropped 7.69 per cent to N2.28, while Unity Bank declined by 6.67 per cent to 42 Kobo.
It was observed that Fidson performed well at the bourse on the first trading session of the week, appreciating by 9.82 per cent to N12.30, Learn Africa grew by 9.78 per cent to N2.47, UPDC rose by 9.71 per cent to N1.13, Prestige Assurance went up by 8.33 per cent to 39 Kobo, while Regency Assurance gained 7.69 per cent to trade at 28 Kobo.
A total of 194.1 million shares worth N2.8 billion exchanged hands in 4,899 deals yesterday compared with the 127.0 million shares worth N1.7 billion transacted in the preceding session in 3,718 deals, representing an increase in the trading volume, value and number of deals by 52.82 per cent, 65.33 per cent and 31.76 per cent respectively.
Transcorp was the most active stock as it sold 25.1 million units worth N31.8 million, GTCO transacted 20.2 million units worth N413.0 million, UBA sold 17.6 million units valued at N131.2 million, AIICO exchanged 13.6 million units for N8.3 million, while FBN Holdings traded 11.6 million units valued at N131.9 million.
When the exchange closed for the session, the All-Share Index (ASI) depreciated by 38.22 points to 51,791.45 points from 51,829.67 points, while the market capitalisation fell by N21 billion to N27.921 trillion from N27.942 trillion.
Adedapo Adesanya