By Dipo Olowookere
Investment in equities in Nigeria shrank last week following the public holiday declared by the federal government last Monday to mark June 12 Democracy Day.
Data from the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited showed that in the four-day trading week, investors only traded 981.2 million shares worth N10.4 billion in 15,001 deals as against the 1.1 billion shares worth N12.8 billion transacted in 17,854 deals the preceding week.
If not for the holiday, the turnover would have increased in the week as market participants traded an average of 245.3 million stocks worth N2.6 billion in 3,750 deals.
Business Post observed that Zenith Bank, Sterling Bank and Wema Bank accounted for 265.7 million units valued at N2.5 billion in 2,742 deals, contributing 27.08 per cent and 23.60 per cent to the total trading volume and value respectively.
Also, financial stocks accounted for 695.8 million units worth N5.2 billion in 8,616 deals, contributing 70.92 per cent and 49.86 per cent to the total trading volume and value respectively.
Consumer goods shares followed with 75.9 million units worth N1.2 billion in 2,263 deals, while conglomerates equities recorded 67.4 million units worth N367.3 million in 612 deals.
A total of 38 equities closed on the gainers’ chart in the week, higher than 35 equities of the previous week, while 25 stocks finished on the losers’ log, lower than 36 stocks of the preceding week, with 93 shares closing flat, higher than 89 shares of the prior week.
Berger Paints was the highest price gainer, appreciating by 14.93 per cent to trade at N7.70. Lasaco Assurance gained 10.29 per cent to sell for N1.50, Champion Breweries increased by 10.00 per cent to quote at N1.98, Morison Industries went up by 9.68 per cent to trade at N1.36, while Red Star Express gained 8.06 per cent to sell for N3.35.
On the flip side, UAC Nigeria closed the week with the highest week-on-week loss of 11.01 per cent to trade at N9.70.
Airtel Africa lost 10.00 per cent to close at N753.30, Abbey Mortgage Bank fell by 9.52 per cent to trade at 95 kobo, Consolidated Hallmark Insurance reduced by 9.46 per cent to 67 kobo, while Okomu Oil dropped 9.44 per cent to quote N105.50.
At the close of transactions for the week, the All-Share Index (ASI) and market capitalisation depreciated by 1.30 per cent to close at 38,648.91 points and N20.143 trillion respectively.
