By Philemon Adedeji
The Nigerian equities market on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), which closed week on Friday on positive performance, still turned green for the opening of this week on Monday as Conoil, Pharmadeko, and 17 others drives market capitalisation to N96 billion.
The Nigerian All shares index inched weight yesterday at the close of trade by 178.22 basis points representing 0.34 per cent to close trade at 53,086.46 index points from 52,908.24 index points it closed week on Friday.
Similarly, the overall market capitalisation value gained N96 billion to N28.619 trillion it closed trade on Monday from N28.523 trillion it closed trade on Friday.
The market sentiments as measured by market breadth was positive as Conoil oil topped 19 gainers yesterday compared to Japaul Gold that topped 13 decliners.
In all, the total volume of trade moved higher yesterday 167 per cent as investors bought and sold 755,623,987 million units it closed trade from N282,969,514 million units it closed week on Friday valued by N8.902 billion and exchanged in 4,297 deals.
On the gainers chart, Conoil oil plc recorded as the most gainer in yesterday trading which appreciated by 2.90 kobo representing 9.97 per cent increased to close trade at N32 per share, Pharmadeko which recorded as the second best gainer grew by 9.37 per cent or 0.15 kobo to close trade at N1.75 per share, as Learn Africa plc rose by 0.19 kobo to represent 8.72 per cent increased to close trade at N2.37 per share.
Ftn Cocoa went up 5.88 per cent or 0.02 kobo to close trade at N0.36 per share and Chams plc which recorded as the last fifth gainer rose by 0.01 kobo representing 4.17 per cent increased to close trade at N0.25 per share.
On the decliners side, Japaul Gold and ABCtrans dipped by 0.02 kobo or 6.25 and 6.06 per cent each to close trade at N0.30 and N0.31 per share respectively.
Unilever plc declined by 3.01 per cent or 0.45 kobo to close trade at N0.66 per share, AIICO insurance and Jaizbank went down by 0.02 kobo representing 2.94 and 2.22 per cent each to close trade at N0.66 and N0.88 per share respectively.
Transaction in the share of First bank of Nigeria holding led the activity chart with 610.413 million share worth 6.755 billion, Flour mill followed which sold 22.965 million share valued by 803.914 million.
Wapic insurance sold 21.604 million share worth 8.793 million while Transcorp accounted 11.566 million share valued at 14.563 million and Zenith bank traded 8.917 million share worth N208.875 million.
At the close of trade yesterday, First bank of Nigeria Holding emerged as the highest in terms of volume and value.