At the close of trading yesterday, the all-share index (ASI) gained 41.89 points, representing a gain of 0.04 per cent to close at 105,593.28 points. Also, market capitalisation rose by N26 billion to close at N66.215 trillion.
The upturn was driven by price appreciation in large and medium capitalised stocks amongst which are; Cadbury Nigeria, Zenith Bank, Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO), Fidelity Bank and May & Baker Nigeria.
As measured by market breadth, market sentiment was positive, as 29 stocks gained relative to 21 losers. May & Baker Nigeria emerged the highest price gainer of 10 per cent to close at N8.80 kobo.
Mutual Benefits Assurance followed with a gain of 9.59 per cent to close at 80 kobo while eTranzact International advanced by 9.38 per cent to close at N5.25 kobo.
Abbey Mortgage Bank appreciated by 8.86 per cent to close at N4.30 kobo while Consolidated Hallmark Holdings rose by 8.79 per cent to close at N3.59 kobo.
On the other side, Eterna led others on the losers’ chart with 9.21 per cent to close at N34.50 kobo.
Royal Exchange followed with a decline of 7.95 per cent to close at 81 kobo while Veritas Kapital Assurance shed 5.98 per cent to close at N1.10 kobo.
Wapic Insurance lost 5.88 per cent to close at N2.24, while Oando depreciated by 5.66 per cent to close at N50.
Sectoral performance was mixed, with the banking, insurance, and industrial sectors rising by 1.3 per cent, 1.99 per cent, and 0.01 per cent respectively, while the consumer goods, oil & gas, and commodity sectors declined by 0.1 per cent, 1.69 per cent and 0.59 per cent.
However, the total volume traded declined by 20.70 per cent to 330.086 million units, valued at N14.857 billion, and exchanged in 12,317 deals.
Transactions in the shares of Access Holdings led the activity with 36.309 million shares worth N804.429 million.
United Bank for Africa (UBA) followed with account of 26.488 million shares valued at N1.002 billion, while Fidelity Bank traded 20.485 million shares worth N380.582 million.
Zenith Bank traded 20.059 million shares worth N966.503 million, while United Capital traded 16.072 million shares worth N268.545 million.
