By Dipo Olowookere
The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) closed for the week on Friday 0.45 percent higher ahead of the Christmas celebration next Monday.
This growth recorded today stretched the upward trend to the third straight trading session with the Year-to-Date (YtD) increasing to 43.34 percent.
Business Post reports that the All Share Index (ASI) increased today to 38,522.14 points from 38,350.64 points yesterday, while the market capitalization finished at N13.709 trillion in contrast to N13.648 trillion it ended on Thursday.
However, the volume shares traded by investors on Friday fell sharply by 52.38 percent from 429.4 million to 204.5 million yesterday, while the value of equities exchanged increased by 1.10 percent from N1.514 billion to N1.530 billion.
Like the previous day, the Financial Services sector led the activity chart today with 93.4 million shares exchanged for N859 million, while the Conglomerates industry followed with 84 million shares worth N123 million exchanging hands at the market.
A breakdown showed Transcorp emerging the busiest, exchanging 83.7 million shares worth N119 million at the stock market on Friday.
It was followed by Fidelity Bank, which sold 15.5 million shares valued at N36.3 million, and FBN Holdings, which traded 12.7 million for N114 million.
FCMB exchanged 11.9 million shares worth N16.3 million, while Zenith Bank sold 10 million shares valued at N258.5 million.
On the price movement chart, Seplat emerged the highest price gainer, appreciating by N28.40k to settle at N596.40k per share.
Nestle came second with N9.79k added to its share value to finish at N1475 per share, and Dangote Cement came third after growing by N2 to close at N240 per share.
Cadbury increased by N1.33k to end at N14.33k per share, while Access Bank rose by 30k to settle at N10.50k per share.
On the flip side, Unilever suffered the biggest loss, going down by N3.21k to settle at N40.68k per share with Nigerian Breweries following with 52k loss to close at N140 per share.
UPL fell by 12k to finish at N2.28k per share, Med-View Airlines crashed by 10k to end at N1.90k per share, while NPF Microfinance Bank depreciated by 5k to settle at N1.25k per share.
The Nigerian stock market is expected to resume trading next Wednesday as a result of the public holiday declared for Monday and Tuesday to mark Christmas and Boxing Day.
