By Dipo Olowookere
A total of 32 equities lifted the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited by 0.09 per cent on Friday after appreciating in value at the close of transactions.
These price gainers were led by Guinness Nigeria, which further gained 9.95 per cent during the session to settle at N60.25 following news that another investor has taken over the company.
eTranzact jumped by 9.89 per cent to N5.00, Unity Bank rose by 9.84 per cent to N1.34, Regency Alliance grew by 9.30 per cent to 47 Kobo, and RT Briscoe advanced by 8.93 per cent to 61 Kobo.
Conversely, Academy Press lost 9.85 per cent to sell for N1.83, CWG plunged by 9.40 per cent to trade at N5.30, Prestige Assurance weakened by 5.56 per cent to 51 Kobo, Japaul declined by 3.52 per cent to N1.92, and United Capital dropped 3.23 per cent to N21.00.
When trading activities finished for the session, the bourse recorded 32 appreciating stocks and 17 depreciating stocks, representing a positive market breadth index and strong investor sentiment.
The NGX witnessed a mixture of buying and selling pressure, as the banking and insurance sectors closed lower by 0.80 per cent and 0.18 per cent apiece, while the consumer goods and industrial goods sectors closed higher by 0.34 per cent and 0.22 per cent, respectively, with the energy counter closing flat.
Analysis of the trading data showed that the All-Share Index (ASI) went up by 93.63 points to 99,925.88 points from 99,832.25 points, and the market capitalisation expanded by N53 billion to N56.527 trillion from N56.474 trillion.
Business Post reports that a total of 318.1 million shares valued at N5.0 billion were transacted in 7,302 deals yesterday compared with the 502.6 million shares worth N8.7 billion traded in 9,686 deals a day earlier, implying a reduction in the trading volume, value, and number of deals by 36.71 per cent, 42.53 per cent, and 24.61 per cent, respectively.
Sterling Holdings finished the day as the busiest equity after selling 42.3 million units for N175.5 million, Zenith Bank traded 28.0 million units valued at N1.0 billion, Fidelity Bank transacted 25.1 million units worth N249.8 million, Veritas Kapital exchanged 20.3 million units for N14.3 million, and Access Holdings sold 19.2 million units valued at N362.4 million.
