How Investors Bought, Sold 1.446 billion Shares Worth N25.418bn in One Week

By Dipo Olowookere

The bulls and the bears fought for dominance at the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited last week, though the former overcame after the bourse posted a week-on-week growth of 0.33 per cent, with the All-Share Index (ASI) and the market capitalisation closing higher at 67,136.58 points and N36.885 trillion, respectively.

Similarly, all other indices finished higher except the premium, pension, insurance, AFR Div. Yield, MERI Growth, consumer goods, industrial goods, growth, sovereign bond and pension broad indices, which depreciated by 0.01 per cent, 0.18 per cent, 1.12 per cent, 0.29 per cent, 0.47 per cent, 0.04 per cent, 0.15 per cent, 0.25 per cent, 3.56 per cent and 0.06 per cent apiece, while the ASeM index closed flat.

According to data from the exchange, investors bought and sold 1.446 billion shares worth N25.418 billion in 28,933 deals compared with the 1.496 billion shares valued at N24.284 billion traded in 29,298 deals a week earlier.

The financial services industry led the activity chart with 958.111 million shares valued at N14.371 billion in 13,270 deals, contributing 66.26 per cent and 56.54 per cent to the total trading volume and value, respectively.

The ICT sector followed with 129.251 million shares worth N972.593 million in 2,722 deals, while the conglomerates space was in third position with 95.634 million shares worth N662.545 million in 1,664 deals.

Access Holdings, Fidelity Bank and UBA were the busiest equities in the week, selling 447.283 million units for N6.568 billion in 4,877 deals, contributing 30.93 per cent and 25.84 per cent to the total trading volume and value apiece.

In the week, 39 stocks appreciated in price versus 28 stocks in the previous week, 42 equities depreciated in price compared with 46 equities in the preceding week, and 76 shares closed flat, in contrast to 83 shares in the earlier week.

Chams topped the gainers’ table after it chalked up 27.52 per cent to close at N1.90, Geregu Power grew by 20.63 per cent to N380.00, Multiverse expanded by 19.85 per cent to N3.20, UAC Nigeria rose by 19.09 per cent to N13.10, and Tantalizers improved by 17.24 per cent to 34 Kobo.

On the flip side, VFD Group topped the losers’ chart after it shed 18.98 per cent to N218.20, Consolidated Hallmark Insurance went down by 10.43 per cent to N1.03, Secure Electronic Technology declined by 10.00 per cent to 27 Kobo, Sunu Assurances also fell by 10.00 per cent to 99 Kobo, and McNichols decreased by 9.68 per cent to 56 Kobo.