Prestige Assurance, Union Diagnostic, others top stock market N96b loss

Following price losses suffered by most bluechip stocks, especially Prestige Assurance and Union Diagnostic, transactions on the equity sector of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) re-opened on a downturn yesterday, causing market capitalization to dip by N96 billion.
   
Yesterday, the All-share index shed 263.87 absolute points or 0.68 per cent to close at 38,664.15 points. Also, the market capitalisation depreciated by N96 billion to close at N14.006 trillion.
     
The downturn was impacted by losses recorded in medium and large capitalised stocks, amongst which are; Unilever Nigeria, Forte Oil, Flour Mills Nigeria, Nascon Allied Industries and Zenith Bank.

However, let the upbeat economic data and company numbers guide your investment decisions.
   
“Meanwhile, dividend income players are taking position ahead of more economic data, even amidst the expected sustained volatility and repositioning.

However, we would like to reiterate that investors should not panic but go for equities with intrinsic value, especially as interim dividend payment is approaching.
   
“We advise investors to allow numbers guide their decisions while repositioning for the rest of the year’s trading activities, especially now that stock prices remain volatile amidst improving company, economic and market fundamentals.” He added.
   
Further breakdown of yesterday’s trading showed that market breadth closed negative, with 12 gainers versus 34 losers.

Union Diagnostic & Clinical Services followed with a decline of five per cent to close at 38 kobo, while Flour Mills Nigeria depreciated by 4.89 per cent to close at N31.15 per share.
 
Forte Oil declined by 4.87 per cent to close at N35.15 and Fidelity Bank also shed 4.85 per cent to close at N2.16 per share.
 
On the other hand, International Breweries topped the gainers chart with 6.54 per cent, to close at N44 per share.

Japaul Oil followed with a gain of 5.26 per cent to close at 40 kobo, while CI Leasing gained by 5.20 per cent to close at N1.82 per share.
   
Eterna rose by 4.92 per cent to close at N6.61, while Ikeja Hotel rose 4.91 per cent to close at N2.99 per share.

The total volume traded appreciated by 16 per cent to 390.47 million shares, worth N6.12 billion, and traded in 3,889 deals.
   
Transactions in the shares of UBA topped the activity chart with 123 million shares valued at N1.3 billion.

Zenith Bank followed with 35.8 million shares worth N919.94 billion, while Access Bank traded 34.83 million shares valued at N365.54 million.

Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNN) traded 32.7 million shares valued at N850.36 million, while Guaranty Trust Bank transacted 23.01 million shares worth N927.14 million.