Investors Trade N20bn Shares in One Week as Index Sheds 4.59%

By Dipo Olowookere

A total turnover of 3.544 billion shares worth N20.264 billion in 19,130 deals were traded last week by investors on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in contrast to a total of 2.629 billion shares valued at N12.794 billion that exchanged hands the previous week in 15,558 deals.

In the week, the financial services sector, measured by volume, led the activity chart with 3.060 billion shares valued at N14.469 billion traded in 11,738 deals.

With this, the sector contributed 86.35 percent and 71.40 percent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

Following were the ICT industry with 253.633 million shares worth N53.707 million in 277deals and the consumer goods industry with a turnover of 65.499 million shares worth N4.356 billion in 2,732 deals.

Trading in Wema Bank, Sterling Bank and Chams accounted for 2.104 billion shares worth N2.026 billion in 965 deals, contributing 59.38 percent and 10.00 percent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

A total of 14 equities appreciated in price during the week, lower than 21 in the previous week, while 55 equities depreciated in price, higher than 36 equities of the previous week, with 98 equities unchanged, lower than 111 equities recorded in the preceding week.

Ikeja Hotels led the gainers’ chart with 20.21 percent growth, with Chams rising by 20 percent, Sovereign Trust Insurance by 15 percent, First Aluminium Nigeria by 10 percent and Berger Paints by 9.70 percent.

At the other side, Eterna topped the losers’ log with 24.53 percent drop, with Union Diagnostic % Clinical Services depreciating by 23.33 percent, UBA fell by 19.48 percent, Beta Glass went down by 18.90 percent, while Neimeth International Pharmaceutical declined by 17.74 percent.

During the week, while the All-Share Index (ASI) depreciated by 4.59 percent to close at 29,616.38 points, the market capitalisation shed 4.69 percent to settle at N11.124 trillion.

In a related development, data from the NSE showed that no Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) were traded during the week compared with a total of 85,775 units valued at N1.187 million transacted a week earlier in 22 deals.

However, a total of 18,042 units of Federal Government Bonds valued at N19.685 million were traded in the week in 24 deals in contrast to 3,453 units valued at N3.565 million transacted the preceding week in 24 deals.