By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Transactions again closed positive on Thursday on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) following a 0.93 percent growth recorded at the market, pushing the year-to-date up to 31.83 percent.
The All-Share Index (ASI) increased by 325.91 points to settle at 35,429.31 points, while the market capitalisation improved by N112.4 billion to finish at N12.2 trillion.
Though the market breadth ended negative today with 21 gainers and 26 losers, the volume and value of shares traded by investors closed higher.
A total of 346.2 million shares exchanged hands on Thursday in 3,066 deals worth N4 billion in contrast to 136.4 million shares transacted on Wednesday in 2,860 deals valued at N1.3 billion.
A breakdown of the trades showed Skye Bank emerging the most transacted stock, moving 99 million shares worth N50.8 million.
It was followed by Axa Mansard, which traded 42.9 million shares valued at N85.8 million, and Transacorp, which sold 20.3 million shares for N25.7 million.
Meyer exchanged 20.3 million shares at N14.2 million, while Access Bank traded 17.3 million shares worth N165.8 million.
On the price movement chart today, Nestle emerged the highest gainer, adding N14.94k to its share price to settle at N1225 per share.
Dangote Cement followed with N2.99k increase to finish at N212.99k per share, as PZ Cussons rose by N1 to end at N26 per share.
International Breweries also grew by N1 to close at N37 per share, while GTBank advanced by 80k to finish at N40 per share.
On the flip side, MRS lost N1.68k to close at N31.98k per share, while NASCON fell by N1.8k to finish at N12.2k per share.
Unilever depreciated by 68k to end at N43.61k per share, CCNN declined by 44k to settle at N8.36k per share, and Ecobank slumped by 30k to close at N17.70k per share.
