By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) closed higher on Thursday with buying pressures dominating most equities in the consumer goods and banking sectors.
This left the stock market appreciating by 0.33 percent with the Year-to-Date (YtD) return finishing at 12.68 percent.
The All-Share Index (ASI) increased by 139.93 points to settle at 43,092.63 points, while the market capitalisation advanced by N49.5 billion to end at N15.480 trillion.
Business Post reports that the volume of transactions yesterday advanced by 112.53 percent while the market value dropped by 34.48 percent.
A total of 574.8 million equities worth N3.4 billion were transacted in 4,340 deals against 270.3 million shares sold the previous day in 4,799 deals valued at N5.2 billion.
Capital Oil led the activity chart with 308.8 million equities worth N142 million exchanging hands yesterday on the floor of the NSE.
It was followed by Japaul Oil, which sold 24 million shares valued at N21.4 million, and Multiverse Resources transacted 17.5 million for N4 million.
Zenith Bank sold 16.6 million equities for N506.2 million, while FBN Holdings traded 16 million shares valued at N184 million.
However, the market breadth closed positive on Wednesday with 30 counters outperforming 27 other counters.
Unilever led the top gainers’ table yesterday with N4.50k added to its share price to finish at N64.60k per share.
Stanbic IBTC grew by N2.35k to close at N49.35k per share, while GTBank rose by N1.40k to end at N49 per share.
Guinness Nigeria also advanced by N1.40k to settle at N99.50k per share, while Flour Mills appreciated by N1 to end at N37 per share.
On the flip side, Presco suffered the heaviest loss, depreciating by N3.65k to settle at N74.35k per share.
It was trailed by Dangote Cement, which fell by N3 to close at N262 per share, and Dangote Sugar declined by 30k to finish at N22.20k per share.
Union Bank also went down by 30k to close at N7.5k per share, while NASCON decreased by 20k to end at N24.55k per share.
Adedapo Adesanya