FOLLOWING price gains recorded by most bluechip companies, equity transactions on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) closed in an upbeat yesterday, causing market capitalisation to appreciate by N92 billion.

Yesterday, the All-Share Index appreciating by 1.14 per cent or 265.51 points to close at 23,598.85, compared with 23,333.34 posted on Wednesday.

Also, the market capitalisation rose by N92 billion or 1.15 per cent to close at N8.116 trillion against N8.024 trillion on Wednesday.

On the price movement chart, Nigerian Breweries topped the gainers chart with N3.35 to close at N100 per share. Dangote Cement followed, adding N1.90 to close at N129.40. Guinness appreciated by 1.00 kobo to close at N110 per share.

Ashaka Cement rose by 95 kobo to close at N25.95 per share. Guaranty Trust Bank added 0.41 kobo to close at N15.76 per share. Access Bank gained 0.35 kobo to close at N4.15 per share.

Ecobank TransNational Incorporated garnered 17 kobo to close at N14.45 per share. United Bank for Africa also added 14 kobo to close at N2.89 per share.

However, Forte Oil topped the losers’ chart, shedding N15.67 to close at N297.83 per share. Universal Insurance trailed with a loss of N3.80 to close at N35.24, while UACN dropped 29 kobo to close at N20 per share.

Vitafoam depreciated by 14 kobo to close at N4.56 and Mansard Insurance lost 11kobo to close at N2.19 per share. African Alliance drove the turnover of shares traded; accounting for one million shares valued N30.50 million exchanged in one deal.

GT Bank transacted 44.64 million shares worth N696.74 million traded in 261 deals, while Zenith Bank sold 33.35 million shares valued N388.83 achieved in 300 deals.

UBA recorded a turnover of 26.79 million shares worth N77.77 million traded in 273 deals and Universal Insurance sold 19 million shares valued N9.50 million in two deals.

In all, investors’ staked N2.01 billion on 273.06 million shares traded in 2,794 deals, against a turnover of 260.48 million shares valued N1.70 billion transacted in 3,465 deals on Wednesday.