By Philemon Adedeji
At the close of trade on Tuesday, The Nigerian equities market extended gains for the fourth consecutive session as the All-Share index appreciated by 326.71 basis points or 0.73 per cent to close at 44,788.14 index points from 44,461.43 index points it closed for previous trading.
Renewed appetite for BUACEMENT (+10.00 per cent) outweighed losses in telco giant, MTNN (-0.25 per cent) as well as Tier-1 banking names, ZENITHBANK (-1.25 per cent), GTCO (-0.54 per cent) and FBNH (-4.17 per cent) keeping the market in the positive terrain.
As a result, the ASI’s year-to-date (YTD) return increased to 4.85 per cent, while the market capitalization value gained N178.40 billion to close at N24.39 trillion from N24.22 trillion it closed on previous trading
Analysis of yesterday market activities showed trade turnover settled higher relative to the previous session, with the value of transactions up by 25.84 trillion .
A total of 159.21million shares worth at N2.73 billion were exchanged in 3,385 deals.
Mutual Benefit Assurance led the volume chart with 47.43 million units, while Airtel Africa led the value chart in deals worth N1.01 billion
Market breadth closed negative at a 2.25-to -1 ratio with declining issues outnumbering advancing ones. Multiverse and Mining Evaporation (-8.50 per cent) topped seventeen (17) others on the laggard’s table, while BUACEMENT (+10.00 per cent) led seven others on the leader’s charts, while Multiverse and Mining Evaporation (-8.50 per cent) topped 17 others on the losers table.
At close of trade yesterday, Buacement came as the most gainer with 10 per cent increased to close at N68.20 per share, Followed by Jaizbank which rose by 8.99 per cent to close at N0.97 per cent, While Union Bank of Nigeria which recorded as the last third gainer appreciated by 8.47 per cent to close at N6.40 per share.
Rt.briscoe went up by 7.14 per cent to close at N0.30 per share and Sovereign Insurance which recorded as the last fifth gainer grew by 4 per cent to close at N0.26 per cent.
However, Multiverse and Mining Evaporation led the laggards table with 8.50 per cent to close at N4.20 per share, Maybaker followed by 6.67 per cent to close at N3.92 per share, While Cornest which recorded as the last third loser dipped by 5.88 per cent to close at N0.48 per share.
NGXGROUP went down by 4.42 per cent to close at N20.55 per share and First Bank Holding of Nigeria which recorded as the last fifth loser depreciated by 4.17 per cent to close at N9.20 per share.
Transaction in the shares of Mutual Benefit Assurance led the activities chart with 47.425 million share valued at 13.278 million, followed by Sterling Bank which transacted 24.436 million share worth 37.542 million, While Jaizbank traded 10.608 million share worth 10.069 million.
Fidelity Bank traded 10.310 million share valued at 37.892 million and Guaranty Trust Holding Company transacted 6.321 million share worth 115.661 million.