Investors Stake N10.1bn on Shares as Market Remains Bullish

Goddy Egene

The stock market remained bullish last week with investors staking N10.12 billion on 950.414 million shares in 16,647 deals.

Although the value of trading was lower than the N13.934 billion invested in 1.327 billion in 19,392 deals the previous week, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index (ASI), appreciated by 0.09 per cent, while market capitalisation ended higher at N13.158 trillion.

As usual, the Financial Services industry remained the most active, leading the activity chart with 624.278million shares valued at N6.181 billion traded in 8,313deals. As a result, the sector contributed 65.6 per cent and 61.1 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

The Consumer Goods industry followed with 96.320 million shares worth N2.199 billion in 3,148deals, while the third place was occupied the Conglomerates industry, with a turnover of 89.376 million shares worth N145.612 million in 757deals. Trading in the top three equities namely Zenith Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust BankPlc and Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc, accounted for 298.901 million shares worth N4.761 billion in 3,056deals, contributing 31.4 per cent and 47.0 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

Meanwhile, the week under review recorded more price gainers as 31 equities appreciated in price, higher than 26 equities in the previous week. On the negative side, 27 equities depreciated in price, lower than 33 equities in the previous week.

LASACO Assurance Plc led the price gainers, rising by 26.9 per cent, trailed by International

Breweries Plc with 26.3 per cent. Cornerstone Insurance Plc appreciated by 18.3 per cent, just as Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc chalked up 12.3 per cent. University Press Plc and Unilever Nigeria Plc gained 11.7 per cent and 11.6 per cent. Champion Breweries Plc and Northern Nigeria Flour Mills Plc garnered 9.8 per cent apiece just as Julius Berger Nigeria Plc and Fidson Healthcare Plc ended the with 9.6 per cent and 8.1 per cent higher respectively.

Conversely, Royal Exchange Plc led the price losers with 16.1 per cent, trailed by Associated Bus Company Plc with 14.8 per cent. Conoil Plc shed 9.7 per cent.

PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc went down by 9.4 per cent, just as UAC of Nigeria Plc dipped by 8.3 per cent. Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc depreciated by 6.0 per cent, while Oando Plc and Vitafoam Nigeria Plc lost 5.2 per cent each. CAP Plc closed the week five per cent weaker, while Regency Assurance Plc shed 4.3 per cent.