Performance indicators of equities at the Nigerian Stock Exchange(NSE) inched up yesterday by 0.14 per cent as investors were still trading with caution to minimise loss and maximise returns.
The market capitalisation added N9.23 billion, while the All Share Index went up by 26.89 points to close at N6.5 trillion and 20,625.56 points respectively. A total of 420.11 million shares worth N2.05 billion were traded in 3,323 deals.
The consumer goods and financial services sectors were the most active, accounting for 58.5 per cent and 25.63 per cent respectively of the entire market value.
The financial services sector traded 344.5 million shares valued at N1.32 billion in 1,756 deals, driven largely by transactions in the shares of Zenith Bank worth N559.1 million for 46.6 million shares in 254 deals followed by First Bank with N170.4 million for 18.6 million shares in 468 deals. Shares of Sovereign Trust Insurance were the most traded as 64.04 million units worth N32.02 million were traded in just two deals, followed by Continental Reinsurance with 63.8 million shares worth N46.6 million in ninedeals. Also, 55.3 million units of Fidelity Bank worth N73.5 million changed hands in 66 deals.
In all, 17 stocks appreciated in price, compared to 25 that shed weight. The percentage gainers was led by Berger Paints which gained 4.97 per cent to close at N8.45, followed by Diamond Bank which gained 4.76 per cent to close at N2.20 and May and Baker with 4.74 per cent to close at N2.87.
On the losers side, shares of BOC Gases shed 4.96 per cent to close at N6.51, followed by Union Bank with 4.95 to close at N8.65 and Vitafoam with 4.92 per cent to close at N4.25.