By Dipo Olowookere
Renewed bargain hunting spurred a 0.16 per cent growth on the floor of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited on Tuesday, with BUA Cement and others in the forefront.
Business Post reports that the gains printed by 10 stocks during the session were enough to wipe off the losses reported by the 22 depreciating shares.
Cutix rose by 7.50 per cent to N2.15, Lasaco Assurance appreciated by 5.88 per cent to N1.08, Union Bank improved by 3.45 per cent to N6.00, and Academy Press expanded by 2.97 per cent to N2.08, while BUA Cement gained 2.63 per cent to sell for N54.60.
Conversely, UPDC REIT finished the day as the heaviest price loser after its value went down by 9.86 per cent to N3.20, PZ Cussons lost 9.27 per cent to close at N9.30, Courteville reduced by 8.93 per cent to 51 Kobo, Japaul dropped 8.11 per cent to quote at 34 Kobo, while Coronation Insurance declined by 6.82 per cent to 41 Kobo.
It was observed that the market was very quiet yesterday despite the bargain hunting as only 204.2 million shares worth N1.6 billion exchanged hands in 3,643 deals compared with the 210.8 million shares worth N2.2 billion transacted in 4,122 deals on Monday, implying a decline in the trading volume, value and number of deals by 3.17 per cent, 25.02 per cent and 11.62 per cent respectively.
FBN Holdings was the most traded equity yesterday as investors exchanged 36.8 million units for N396.2 million, with eTranzact executing 30.0 million units valued at N68.4 million. UBA traded 20.5 million units worth N143.7 million, Access Holdings transacted 20.1 million shares for N171.5 million, while Eterna traded 12.3 million stocks valued at N86.1 million.
At the close of trades, the insurance, energy and consumer goods counters lost 0.97 per cent, 0.51 per cent and 0.36 per cent apiece, while the industrial goods and banking sectors grew by 0.96 per cent and 0.31 per cent respectively.
As a result, the All-Share Index (ASI) increased by 80.03 points 49,709.46 points from 49,629.43 points, while the market capitalisation went up by N43 billion to N26.812 trillion from N26.769 trillion.
