Nigerian bourse sustains upward swing as index gains 0.50%

The Nigerian Stock Exchange All-Share Index (NSE ASI) and the Market Capitalization increased by 0.50 per cent, while the year-to-date return on the Exchange stood at 37.32 per cent.
The index, which opened at 36,720.62, appreciated by 184.44 points or 0.50 per cent to close at 36,905.06 while the market capitalisation closed higher by N65 billion or 0.51 per cent to close at N12.720 trillion from the previous N12.655 trillion.
The Financial Services sector led the activity chart with 163.724 million shares exchanged for ₦1.954 billion. Conglomerates came next with 46.62 million shares traded for ₦0.252 billion, Consumer Goods, Services, Oil And Gas sectors followed in that order on the activity chart.
The price movement showed that Nigerian Breweries led the price gainers’ table for the day as it gained N4.24 to close at N171.25 per share.
Guinness followed with a gain of N3.32 to close at N69.87, while Lafarge Africa appreciated by N2.75 to close at N57.75. Nestle gained N1.42 to close at N1026.42, while Flour Mills rose by N1.20 to close at N29.20 per share.
On the other hand, Seplat topped the price losers’ chart, declining by N17.90 to close at N470.10 per share. Total followed with decline of N8.50 to close at N361.50, while Okomu Oil was down by N3.80 to close at N72.23 and Presco depreciated by N2.45 to close at N74.50 per share.
The volume of shares traded, however, closed lower as investors exchanged 251.01 million shares worth N3.78 billion in 4,047 deals. This was against the 849.60 million shares valued at N94.05 billion traded in 5,602 deals on Tuesday.
Transcorp was the most the toast of investors, trading 34.78 million shares worth N49.67 million.
Fidelity Bank followed with 29.97 million shares valued at N39.03 million, while FBN Holdings traded 28.82 million shares worth N173.29 million.
Zenith International exchanged 25.60 million shares valued at N641.47 million, while Guaranty Trust Bank sold 20.99 million shares worth N815.33 million.