By Philemon Adedeji
Trading activities on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) was mixed, albeit with a bullish tilt as the All-Share Index (ASI) closed marginally higher by 12.54 basis points to represent 0.02 per cent to close at 54,520.20 absolute points from 54,507.66 absolute points it closed for previous trading day.
Gains in Zenith Bank (+0.59 per cent), Guaranty Trust Holding Company (+0.20 per cent) and Nigerian Breweries (+1.23 per cent) offset the decline in WAPCO Insurance (-2.44 per cent) and First Bank Holding of Nigeria (-0.43 per cent).
Subsequently, the market remains on track for a weekly gain. The year-to-date (YTD) return rose to 6.38 per cent, while the market capitalisation value grew by N8 billion to close at N29.696 trillion from N29. 688 trillion it closed trade on Wednesday.
The slight increase in market performance was impacted by price appreciation in medium and large capitalised stocks which are Zenith Bank, Tripple G, Japaulgold and others.
The breakdown of yesterday’s market activities showed trade turnover settled lower relative to the previous session, with the value of transactions down by 17.28 per cent.
The trade volume declined further by 6.4 per cent to close at 125860,855 million units valued at N3.602 billion were exchanged in 2,670 deals.
Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) led the volume chart with 19.173 million shares traded while Dangote Cement led the value chart in deals worth N1.945 billion.
The market sentiments as measured by market breadth closed negative as Courtville Business Solution topped 12 others on the laggard’s log while Triple G led 10 others on the leader’s table.
Triple G led the gainers chart with 9.70 per cent increased to close at N1.81 per share, closely followed by Japaulgold and Rt.briscoe which gained 7.14 per cent each increased to at N0.30 per share.
Living Trust Mortgage Bank which recorded as the last fourth gainer appreciated by 6.90 per cent to close at N2.17 per cent.
Veritaskap Insurance rose significantly by 5.00 per cent to close at N0.21 per share.
However, on the laggards log, Courtville Business Solution came as the highest price loser which depreciated by 9.62 per cent to close at N0.47 per share, Computer Warehouse Group which followed shed 8.99 per cent to close at N0.81 per. share, while NGXGROUP which recorded as the last third loser dipped by 6.69 per cent to close at N26.50 per share.
Wapic Insurance declined by 4.65 per cent to close at N0.41 per share.
Fidelity Bank which recorded as the last fifth loser went down by 3.27 per cent to close at N5.03 per share.
Transaction in the shares of Guaranty Trust Holding Company topped the activities chart with 19.173 million shares worth N481.722 million, followed by United Bank of Africa (UBA) transacted 14.357 million shares valued at N120.585 million, while Zenith Bank traded 8.441 million shares worth N214.560 million.
Transcorp plc accounted 8.392 million shares valued at N10.405 million
Dangote Cement traded 7.208 million shares worth N1.945 billion.