NGX index rises by 0.25%, as Nem Insurance, Stanbic IBTC lead the gainers

By Philemon Adedeji

At the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), the equities trading yesterday ended five straight sessions of losses and recovered back as the market capitalisation grew by N65 billion.

In summary, the All-Share Index (ASI) rose by 120.48 absolute points, representing an increase  of 0.25 per cent, to close at 48,675.24 points.

Similarly, in naira terms, the overall market capitalisation value gained N65 billion to close at N26.254 trillion.

The market positive performance was driven by price appreciation in large and medium capitalised stocks which are Nestle Nigeria, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), BUA Cement and NEM Insurance Plc.

GTI Securities Limited said “the domestic market closes the day positive to reverse a two day bearish sentiment. All sector recorded positive performance.

“We expect mixed sentiments to continue in the following trading days, as more companies release their Q2 results.”

Also, market breadth closed positive as 16 stocks gained versus  11 stocks that declined.

NGX ASI MOST ADVANCERS

NEM Insurance recorded the highest price gain of 10 per cent to close at N4.84, per share. Stanbic IBTC Holdings followed with a gain of 8.93 per cent to close at N30.50 and ETI went up 8.00 per cent to close at N10.80, per share.

Cutix up by 7.37 per cent to close at N2.04, while Japaul Gold and Ventures appreciated by 6.90 per cent  to close at 31 kobo, per share.

NGX ASI MIDWEEK MOST LOSERS

On the other hand, Fidson Healthcare  led the losers’ chart by 9.80 per cent to close at N9.11, per share. FTN Cocoa processors followed with a decline of 9.09 per cent to close at 30 kobo, while Unity Bank lost 2.33 per cent to close at 42 kobo, per share.

FCMB Group declined 2.19 per cent to close at N3.13, while AIICO Insurance shed 1.79 per cent to close at 55 kobo, per share.

However, the total volume traded decreased by 17.92 per cent to 167.569 million units, valued at N3.374 billion, and exchanged in 3,751 deals.

Transactions in the shares of Access Holdings topped the activity chart with 27.898 million shares valued at N231.144 million. United Bank for Africa (UBA) followed with 22.949 million shares worth N160.909 million, while FBN Holdings traded 22.507 million shares valued at N241.975 million.

Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) traded 16.088 million shares valued at N323.988 million, while Zenith Bank transacted 11.860 million shares worth N261.112 million.