Zenith Bank, Union Diagnostic, others lift NSE’s volume by N23.4b

Despite the one-day holiday declared on Monday, to commemorate the Id-el-Fitri celebration, a turnover of 1.727 billion shares worth N23.389 billion was recorded on the equities sector of Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in 15,043 deals last week.

The figure was in  contrast to a total of 1.187 billion shares valued at N20.259 billion that exchanged hands in 14,349 deals during the preceding week.

Last week, the financial services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 1.343 billion shares, valued at N17.982 billion traded in 7,612 deals; thus contributing 77.80 per cent and 76.88 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

The Healthcare Industry followed with a turnover of 184.005million shares worth N109.613 million in 358 deals.

The third place was occupied by conglomerates industry with 71.320 million shares worth N276.503 million in 937 deals.

Trading in the top three equities namely – Zenith International Bank Plc.; Union Diagnostic & Clinical Services Plc, and United Bank For Africa Plc. (measured by volume) accounted for 1.028 billion shares worth N14.007 billion in 1,467 deals, contributing 60 per cent and 59.89 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

Also traded during the week were a total of 1,703 units of Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) valued at N540,319.29 executed in 15 deals compared with a total of 35,774 units valued at N1.055 million transacted last week in 14 deals.

A total of 1000 units of Federal Government Bonds valued at N1,080 million were traded this week in one  deal compared with a total 505 units valued at N514, 265.14 million transacted last week in one deal.

The NSE All-Share Index and Market Capitalization appreciated by 0.14per cent and 0.27per cent to close on Friday at 31,091.69 and N10.657 trillion respectively.

Similarly, all the Indices finished higher during the week, with the exception of Banking, Insurance, ASeM, and Pension Indices that closed lower.

28 equities appreciated in price during the week, higher than 13 equities of the preceding week. 44 equities depreciated in price, lower than 57 equities of the preceding week, while 118 equities remained unchanged, lower than 120 equities recorded in the preceding week.

Meanwhile, a total of 3,298,138,756 Ordinary Shares of 50 Kobo at N3.50 per share belonging to United Bank for Africa Plc, were admitted to trade at the Exchange on July 24, 2015.

This is as a result of the rights issue exercise concluded by the bank. By this action, the total outstanding shares of the company now stood at 36,279,526,322 units.