By Dipo Olowookere
A total of 1.4 billion shares worth N15.9 billion were traded in 18,459 deals last week by investors compared with the 1.4 billion shares valued at N10.9 billion transacted a week earlier in 19,614 deals.
Business Post reports that the stock market only opened for four days as a result of the public holiday declared by the federal government last Monday to celebrate Workers’ Day.
Access Bank, FBN Holdings and Zenith Bank were the most traded stocks in the week, accounting for 610.0 million units worth N6.6 billion in 4,870 deals, contributing 43.00 per cent and 41.42 per cent to the total trading volume and value respectively.
Financial stocks led the activity chart with 1.1 billion units worth N9.5 billion traded in 10,907 deals, contributing 75.34 per cent and 59.88 per cent to the total trading volume and value respectively.
Industrial goods equities trailed with 60.8 million units valued at N2.0 billion in 1,070 deals, while consumer goods shares traded 57.0 million shares worth N1.0 billion in 2,831 deals.
During the week, there were 31 price gainers compared with the 36 price gainers of the preceding week, while there were 37 price losers in contrast to 41 price losers of the earlier week. A total of 92 equities closed flat versus 85 equities of the previous week.
On the price gainers’ chart, Royal Exchange was on top with a price appreciation of 22.64 per cent to close at 65 kobo.
Sovereign Trust Insurance gained 17.39 per cent to sell for 27 kobo, Access Bank grew by 11.64 per cent to N8.15, Union Bank rose by 10.20 per cent to N5.40, while Conoil improved by 10.00 per cent to N18.70.
On top of the losers’ chart was Linkage Assurance as a result of the 18.82 per cent price depreciation it suffered to close at 69 kobo.
Courtville lost 13.04 per cent to trade at 20 kobo, NEM Insurance decreased by 10.84 per cent to N1.81, BOC Gases dropped 9.99 per cent to N12.25, while SCOA Nigeria declined by 9.66 per cent to N2.15.
At the close of transactions for the week, the All-Share Index and market capitalisation depreciated by 1.60 per cent and 1.99 per cent to 39,198.75 points and N20.431 trillion respectively.
Similarly, all other indices finished lower with the exception of banking, pension, NSE-AFR Div Yield, NSE MERI Value, consumer goods and energy indices, which appreciated by 0.62 per cent, 0.35 per cent, 1.12 per cent, 1.66 per cent, 0.62 per cent and 5.98 per cent respectively, while the ASeM index closed flat.
