PZ Cussons Tops Gainers’ Log as NGX Index Rises 0.12%

By Dipo Olowookere

It was a positive start to a new week on the floor of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited on Monday as trading indices appreciated by 0.12 per cent.

This pushed the All-Share Index (ASI) higher by 51.48 points to 41,814.74 points from 41,763.26 points, while the market capitalisation rose by N27 billion to N21.821 trillion from N21.794 trillion.

During the trading day, PZ Cussons was the biggest price gainer as its value rose by 9.32 per cent to N6.45 and was trailed by Mutual Benefits Assurance, which grew by 7.14 per cent to 30 kobo.

Further, Unilever Nigeria appreciated by 6.90 per cent to N15.50, Axa Mansard Insurance improved by 6.49 per cent to N2.46, while Cutix gained 5.79 per cent to close at N6.40.

On the flip side, Abbey Mortgage Bank led the losers’ table due to the 9.47 per cent loss it recorded, closing for the day at 86 kobo and was trailed by Prestige Assurance, which fell by 8.51 per cent to 43 kobo.

Regency Alliance lost 7.32 per cent to trade at 38 kobo, C & I Leasing depreciated by 6.38 per cent to settle at N4.40, while NGX Group went down by 6.36 per cent to N20.60.

In terms of the activity level, it was mixed as the trading volume rose by 32.21 per cent to 674.5 million units from 510.2 million units, the trading value increased by 29.42 per cent to N7.6 billion from N5.9 billion, while the number of deals went down by 0.97 per cent to 5,432 deals from 5,485 deals.

For another trading session, FBN Holdings emerged as the most active with the sale of 350.5 million shares worth N4.4 billion, Ecobank traded 45.6 million stocks for N347.8 million, Universal Insurance exchanged 33.9 million equities valued at N6.8 million, Transcorp transacted 32.6 million shares for N33.2 million, while GTCO traded 21.5 million stocks for N614.4 million.

A look at the performance of the key sectors showed that the insurance, consumer goods and energy counters appreciated by 1.88 per cent, 0.43 per cent and 0.40 per cent respectively, while the banking and industrial goods sectors depreciated by 0.19 per cent and 0.06 per cent respectively.