By Adedapo Adesanya
After two consecutive weeks in the danger zone, the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange returned to the green territory last week, championed by the three market heavyweights.
The three companies were led by FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc, which gained 3.3 per cent week-on-week to sell for N120.00 per share compared with the previous week’s N116.17 per share.
Central Securities and Clearing System Plc, on its part, appreciated in the week by 2.8 per cent to trade at N18.50 per share in contrast to N17.99 per share it ended a week earlier, while UBN Property Plc improved by 0.9 per cent to quote at N1.18 per share versus the previous close of N1.17 per share.
The gains printed by the trio expanded the market capitalisation of the bourse by N6.63 billion to N536.52 billion from N530.35 billion and increased the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) by 15.32 points to 754.81 points from 746.12 points it finished at the previous week.
During the week, the trading value increased by 14.9 per cent to N276.2 million from N240.4 million, the trading volume rose by 23.7 per cent to 14.6 million units from 11.8 million units, while the number of deals increased by 17.7 per cent to 146 deals from 124 deals.
Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Group Plc was the most traded stock by volume last week for transacting 14.2 million units, followed by VFD Group with 1.9 million units, CSCS Plc with 170,600 units, Friesland with 111,237 units and UBN Property Plc with 100,000 units.
Also, NGX Group was the most active stock by value with the sale of N259.4 million shares. Friesland transacted N13.4 million stocks, CSCS Plc traded N3.1 million securities, VFD Group exchanged N197,750 shares, while Niger Delta Exploration and Production (NDEP) Plc traded N178,170 equities.
At the close of the 25th trading week, the unlisted securities market has recorded a year-to-date (YTD) return of 1.8 per cent, with 410.0 million shares worth N8.9 billion traded in 2,498 deals.
