NGX sustains sliding profile as capitalisation dips further by N17bn

Despite price gains that outweighed losses, transactions on the equities sector of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) sustained a sliding profile yesterday, causing market capitalisation to dip further by N17 billion.

Yesterday, the All-Share Index (ASI) shed 32.57 absolute points, representing a decrease of 0.08 per cent to close at 38,873.85 points. Similarly, the overall market capitalisation value lost N17 billion to close at N20.254 trillion.

The market’s negative performance was driven by price depreciation in large and medium capitalised stocks which are; Zenith Bank, Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO), Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals, Access Bank and Flour Mills of Nigeria.

Analysts at Afrinvest Limited said: “Following an improvement in sentiment, we expect a positive performance in the next trading session as investors take position in attractive stocks.”

However, market breadth closed positive, recording 16 gainers as against 13 losers. MRS Oil Nigeria recorded the highest price gain of 9.75 per cent to close at N15.20 kobo. Veritas Kapital Assurance followed with a gain 9.52 per cent to close at 23 kobo while Regency Alliance Insurance went up by 6.82 per cent to close at 47 kobo.

Unity Bank appreciated by 3.77 per cent to close at 55 kobo. Courteville Business Solutions gained 3.23 per cent to close at 32 kobo.

On the other hand, Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals led the losers’ chart by 7.89 per cent to close at N1.75 kobo. Chams followed with a decline of 4.35 per cent to close at 22 kobo while Japaul Gold and Ventures lost 4.08 per cent to close at 47 kobo.

Sovereign Trust Insurance lost four per cent to close at 24 kobo while Wema Bank shed 3.80 per cent to close at 76 kobo.
Further breakdown of yesterday’s trading showed that the total volume of transactions rose by 1.4 per cent to 184.443 million units, valued at N2.343 billion, and exchanged in 3,809 deals.

Transactions in the shares of United Bank for Africa topped the activity chart with 38.994 million shares valued at N297.641 million. GTCO followed with 19.037 million shares worth N517.862 million, while Zenith Bank traded 14.199 million shares valued at N326.522 million.

United Capital traded 12.888 million shares valued at N114.177 million, while Access Bank transacted 10.083 million shares worth N90.171 million.

Meanwhile, the NGX is set to host the inaugural edition of its TechNovation conference. The conference slated for September 30, 2021 is a flagship event that provides a platform for local and global technology leaders to syndicate conversations around technology, partnerships and innovation that can advance technology adoption in the Nigerian capital market.

The event, with the theme, ‘Technology, Platforms and Markets’, will be hosted by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NGX, Temi Popoola, alongside other industry experts across the public and private sectors.

According to the NSE, the advancement and exponential growth of technology around the world has signaled a new wave of opportunities for forward thinking organisations.