Local Stocks Attract N20.221bn in Five Days as 22 Equities Appreciate

By Dipo Olowookere

Last week, investors transacted 1.023 billion shares worth N20.221 billion in 18,650 deals compared with the 1.910 billion shares valued at N18.436 billion traded in 20,311 deals a week earlier.

This was as the 22 equities appreciated in price, lower than the 53 equities on the gainers’ chart in the preceding week due to profit-taking.

Business Post reports that the losers’ chart had 41 stocks compared with 21 stocks the previous week, while 94 shares remained unchanged versus 83 shares in the previous week.

Julius Berger was the highest price gainer as it grew by 10.00 per cent to N26.95, Trans-Nationwide Express rose by 9.88 per cent to 89 Kobo, International Energy Insurance improved by 8.33 per cent to N1.30, UAC Nigeria inflated by 8.24 per cent to N9.20, and Transcorp chalked up 7.81 per cent to close at N1.38.

Conversely, MRS Oil recorded the heaviest decline after it shed 18.99 per cent to N27.95, Conoil shed 18.89 per cent to N38.00, FTN Cocoa dropped 13.33 per cent to 26 Kobo, NCR Nigeria dwindled by 10.80 per cent to N2.89, and Multiverse deflated by 9.85 per cent to N3.57.

In the week, financial stocks led the activity chart with 414.427 million units worth N5.646 billion executed in 8,136 deals, accounting for 40.50 per cent and 27.92 per cent of the total trading volume and value, respectively.

Conglomerates equities recorded a turnover of 307.868 million units worth N479.512 million in 1,122 deals, while industrial goods shares recorded 104.234 million units valued at N10.354 billion in 1,334 deals.

The trio of Transcorp, GTCO and BUA Cement were the busiest stocks, contributing 43.76 per cent and 47.26 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value, respectively, with the sale of 447.809 million units worth N9.556 billion in 2,018 deals.

A look at the movement of the key indices of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited in the week under review showed that the All-Share Index (ASI) and the market capitalisation appreciated by 0.48 per cent to 55,794.51 points and N30.395 trillion, respectively.

Similarly, all other indices finished higher except the NGX Main Board, NGX CG, banking, pension, NGX AFR Bank Value, NGX AFR Dividend Yield, NGX MERI Growth, NGX MERI Value, consumer goods and energy indices, which fell by 0.09 per cent, 0.74 per cent, 1.82 per cent, 0.57 per cent, 2.04 per cent, 0.57 per cent, 0.88 per cent, 1.91 per cent, 0.26 per cent and 3.82 per cent, respectively, while the ASeM index closed flat.