Activities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) returned to negative territory on Wednesday, after appreciating for two consecutive days. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the crucial market indices closed southward, dropping by 2.37 per cent, amid loses by Nestle and Dangote Cement.
The All-Share Index lost 787.85 points or 2.37 per cent to close at 32,403.60 against 33,191.45 recorded on Tuesday. Also, the market capitalisation which opened at N12.117 trillion shed N288 billion or 2.38 per cent to close at N11.829 trillion.
Mr Ambrose Omordion, the Chief Operating Officer, InvestData Limited, attributed the development to profit taking embarked upon by investors. Omordion said that investors took advantage of gains recorded in the last couple of days.
Nestle topped the losers’ chart, declining by N30 to close at N1,370 per share. Dangote Cement trailed with a loss of N14.50 to close at N200, while Unilever was down by N2.65 to close at N43 per share.
Flour Mills dipped 85k to close at N19.65, while FBN Holdings declined by 45k to close at N9.20 per share. On the other, Guinness led the gainers’ table, growing by N1 to close at N80.50 per share. Forte Oil followed with a gain of 50k to close at N21, while Nigerian Breweries appreciated by 40k to close at N88.10 per share.
Cadbury added 35k to close at N9.50, while Zenith Bank advanced by 20k to close at N24.20 per share. In spite of the drop in market indicators, the volume of shares traded closed higher as investors bought and sold 380.97 million shares valued at N2.33 billion and transacted in 3,278 deals.
NAN reports that this was in contrast with 185.19 million shares worth N2.35 billion shares achieved in 3,180 deals. FCMB Group was the most traded, exchanging 142.69 million shares valued at N222.12 million. Access Bank followed with an account of 90.79 million shares valued at N726.32 million, while Transcorp traded 16.35 million shares worth N22.04 million.
Regency Insurance traded 16.34 million shares valued at N3.27 million, while Sterling Bank sold 14.11 million shares worth N21.17 million. (NAN)
Pix: Nigeria stock market
