Index remains flat; Brent crude oil continues to nosedive
Market pulse on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) today – Thursday, March 23rd, 2017 ended flat as the stock market closed. This was further highlighted by negative performance from the NSE Subsectors: Banking and Oil & Gas (Save Insurance and Consumer Goods). However, trading activities decreased in volume as 115.11m shares worth of N1.42 billion in 2,861 deals exchanged hands today. This is a decrease from as 198.84m shares worth of N2.53 billion in 2,306 deals which exchanged hands on Wednesday. Topping in volume terms are: Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc and United Bank for Africa Plc; Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc ended trading as the most active stocks in value terms. New low for Brent crude oil price records at US$50.39 per barrel.
The All Share Index (NSEASI) closed flat with 0.00% (-0.06) decrease to close at 25,514.03 from 25,514.09 the previous trading day. Market capitalization depreciated in tandem to N8.83 trillion from N8.83 trillion of prior trading day. Similarly, the Thisday BGL 50 Index closes with an decrease of 0.04% to 106.06 from 106.09 recorded at the end of the previous trading day, while its market capitalization stood at N8.26 trillion from N8.26 trillion of the previous trading day.
Market breath closed positive today as 20 stocks gained on the bourse while 14 stocks also declined, leaving 56 stocks unchanged. Topping the Thisday BGL 50 Index gainers’ list Lafarge Africa Plc as it emerged as the day’s toast of investors with a gain of 8.47% to close at N4.23 per share. It was followed by Sterling Bank Plc with a gain of 4.23% to close at N0.74 per share. Others on the gainers list include: Fidson Healthcare Plc, UACN Property Development Co. Limited and Oando Plc; while on the decliners’ list, Seplat Petroleum Dev. Co. Ltd lead with a loss of 9.73% to close at N359.28 per share. It was followed by Guinness Nig. Plc with a loss of 4.21% to close at N60.00 per share. Others on the decliners list include: Access Bank Plc, National Salt Co. Nig. Plc and Diamond Bank Plc.