By Adedapo Adesanya
The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) returned to the green territory on Wednesday as it appreciated by 0.58 per cent after closing bearish for five straight sessions.
The growth recorded yesterday by the NASD OTC Exchange was buoyed by FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria Plc, which appreciated by N6.95 or 5.5 per cent to close the session at N127 per unit in contrast to N120.25 per unit it closed at the previous session.
The milk maker ensured that the losses recorded by four other stocks at the unlisted securities market on Wednesday did not have an effect on the general outcome of the bourse.
Central Securities Clearing Systems (CSCS) Plc depreciated by 54 kobo or 3 per cent to settle at N18 per share compared with the previous closing price of N18.54 per share.
On its part, Swap Technologies & Telecomms Plc declined by 9 kobo or 11.4 per cent to close at 79 kobo per unit in contrast to 88 kobo per unit it ended on Tuesday.
Furthermore, Afriland Properties Plc decreased by 4 kobo or 3.3 per cent to close the trading day at N1.21 per share versus N1.25 per share of the earlier session.
Finally, Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Group Plc dropped one kobo or 0.1 per cent to trade at the midweek session at N16.50 per unit as against N16.51 per unit it was sold on Tuesday.
Despite the poor performance of these four equities, the market capitalisation of the bourse increased by N3.77 billion to close at N654.57 billion compared with N650.80 billion it closed in the preceding session.
Also, the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) appreciated during the session by 4.34 points to wrap the session at 753.10 points versus the previous day’s 748.76 points.
At the market yesterday, there was a rise in the volume of securities traded by 404.3 per cent as investors exchanged 13.5 million units in contrast to the 2.9 million units traded at the preceding session.
Also, there was a surge in the value of shares traded yesterday by 1,816.5 per cent as shares worth N135.8 million exchanged hands compared to N7.1 million achieved a day earlier.
In the same vein, the number of deals carried out during the day went up by 210 per cent to 31 deals from 10 deals of the preceding session.
When trading activities were ended for the session, Geo Fluids Plc was the most traded stock by volume on a year-to-date basis with 1.0 billion units valued at N700.1 million. NGX Group followed with 378.1 million units worth N7.9 billion, while Food Concepts Plc has transacted 294.4 million units valued at N385.4 million.
But in terms of value, NGX Group Plc maintained its top spot with 378.1 million units worth N7.9 billion, followed by VFD Group Plc with 6.3 million units valued at N2.0 billion, and Niger Delta Exploration and Production (NDEP) Plc with 3.2 million units worth N981.9 million.
