By Dipo Olowookere
The raising of the monetary policy rate (MPR) by 50 basis points to 18.00 per cent by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Tuesday did not deter the Nigerian stock market from closing in the green territory.
Business Post reports that the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited rebounded by 0.03 per cent yesterday on the back of fresh bargain-hunting in financial and industrial goods equities.
The energy sector remained flat during the session, as the consumer goods counter lost 0.12 per cent, while the insurance, banking and industrial goods sectors appreciated by 1.30 per cent, 0.36 per cent, and 0.11 per cent, respectively.
At the close of business, the All-Share Index (ASI) increased by 18.64 points to 54,904.68 points from 54,886.04 points, while the market capitalisation went up by N9 billion to settle at N29.909 trillion, in contrast to Monday’s N29.900 trillion.
UBA ended the session as the busiest stock after it transacted 19.6 million units, Transcorp traded 14.5 million units, Fidelity Bank sold 12.7 million units, Zenith Bank exchanged 12.0 million units, and GTCO transacted 10.5 million units.
When the market closed for the day, investors transacted 127.7 million shares worth N1.6 billion in 2,987 deals compared with the 1.2 billion shares worth N2.9 billion traded in 3,066 deals a day earlier, representing a decline in the trading volume, value, and the number of deals by 89.42 per cent, 44.83 per cent, and 2.58 per cent apiece.
Linkage Assurance was the highest price gainer on Tuesday as it grew by 9.76 per cent to 45 Kobo, Coronation Insurance expanded by 7.89 per cent to 41 Kobo, Champion Breweries rose by 4.26 per cent to N4.90, Sterling Bank jumped by 2.67 per cent to N1.54, and Jaiz Bank inflated by 2.30 per cent to 89 Kobo.
On the flip side, Ikeja Hotel was the heaviest price loser after it declined by 9.65 per cent to N1.03, Cadbury Nigeria depleted by 5.83 per cent to N11.30, University Press shed 4.76 per cent to N2.00, International Breweries slumped by 4.30 per cent to N4.45, and Regency Assurance decreased by 3.45 per cent to 28 Kobo.
It was observed that the market breadth was flat yesterday as the bourse finished with 12 price gainers and 12 price losers.
