Investors’ wealth appreciates by N86b in four days

Trading on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) sustained a rising profile yesterday as more blue chip stocks appreciated in price, causing investors’ wealth to increase by N86 billion in four trading days.

Specifically, the market capitalisation of the NSE, which opened at N12, 919 trillion on Monday, rose by N86 billion or 0.66 per cent to N13, 005 trillion yesterday.

Similarly, the All-share index, which measures the performance of listed equities advanced by 236.61 points from 24,766.12 to 24,930.34.

The upturn was impacted by gains recorded in large and medium capitalised stocks, among which are: Seplat Petroleum Development Company (Seplat), Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Guinness Nigeria, MTN Nigeria Communications and NASCON Allied Industries (NASCON).

Capital market analysts noted that the domestic equities market sustained its bullish streak for the fifth consecutive session following continued interest in banking stocks.

Analysts at Afrinvest Limited were unanimous that following four consecutive bullish sessions and profit-taking witnessed earlier, “we could see profit-taking activities drag market performance today (Friday). However, we expect the equities market to close on a positive note for the week.”

Market sentiment, as measured by the market breadth, was positive, as 20 stocks gained relative to 10 losers. Seplat recorded the highest price gain of 9.03 per cent, to close at N350.00, per share.

Fidson Healthcare followed with a gain 8.57 per cent to close at N3.42, while Stanbic IBTC Holdings rose by 4.76 per cent to close at N33.00, per share. Eterna went up by 4.40 per cent to close at N1.90 per share.

UACN Property Development Company appreciated by 4.35 per cent to close at 96 kobo, per share. On the other hand, Union Bank of Nigeria (UBN) led the losers’ chart by 7.41 per cent, to close at N5.00, per share.

Learn Africa followed with a decline of 6.93 per cent to close at 94 kobo, while Linkage Assurances lost five per cent to close at 38 kobo, per share. Japaul Oil & Maritime Services lost 4.55 per cent to close at 21 kobo, while May and Baker Nigeria shed 3.45 per cent to close at N2.80, per share.

However, the total volume traded declined by 54.67 per cent to 173.748 million shares, worth N2.133 billion, and traded in 3,646 deals. Transactions in the shares of FBN Holdings (FBNH) topped the activity chart with 29.775 million shares valued at N150.249 million.

Guaranty Trust Bank followed with 13.158 million shares worth N312.617 million, while Custodian Investment traded 12.849 million shares valued at N64.247 million.

Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp) traded 10.75 million shares valued at N6.652 million, while Lafarge Africa transacted 9.963 million shares worth N116.627 million.