By Dipo Olowookere
A turnover of 1.597 billion shares worth N32.313 billion in 44,915 deals was recorded by the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited last week versus the 1.132 billion shares valued at N28.650 billion transacted a week earlier in 21,921 deals.
Financial equities led the activity chart with 1.148 billion units valued at N22.422 billion traded in 26,192 deals, contributing 71.87 per cent and 69.39 per cent to the total trading volume and value, respectively.
Conglomerates stocks followed with 117.629 million units sold for N1.579 billion in 2,501 deals, and energy shares recorded a turnover of 92.498 million units worth N810.985 million in 2,621 deals.
Access Holdings, UBA, and Zenith Bank accounted for 570.027 billion stocks worth N14.078 billion in 12,079 deals, contributing 35.69 per cent and 43.57 per cent to the total trading volume and value, respectively.
In the week, shares of 13 companies appreciated compared with 19 of the preceding week, stocks of 62 firms depreciated versus 40 of the previous week, and equities of 79 organisations closed flat, in contrast to 95 a week earlier, reflecting a weak investor sentiment triggered by selling pressure.
Consequently, the All-Share Index (ASI) and the market capitalisation depreciated by 2.71 per cent on a week-on-week basis to 99,539.75 points and N56.296 trillion, respectively.
Similarly, all other indices finished lower apart from the sovereign bond index, which gained 3.5 per cent, while the ASeM and energy indices closed flat.
The biggest price loser was GTCO, which fell by 19.08 per cent to N33.50, Unity Bank declined by 19.00 per cent to N1.62, Livestock Feeds dropped 18.99 per cent to N1.45, Japaul lost 18.54 per cent to close at N1.67, and Chams shed 16.67 per cent to N1.70.
Conversely, Morison Industries recorded the biggest price appreciation of 45.31 per cent to trade at N3.72, Guinness Nigeria rose by 10.00 per cent to N55.00, Academy Press jumped by 9.77 per cent to N1.91, Prestige Assurance grew by 8.93 per cent to 61 Kobo, and Thomas Wyatt increased by 8.63 per cent to N2.14.
