By Philemon Adedeji
The Nigerian equities market closed on bullish sentiment during the week as the All-Share Index (ASI) rose by 0.79 per cent at the close of week on Friday, This is following the 0.98 cent growth recorded in the previous week.
This is according to weekly stock market report supplied under the floor of Nigerian Exchange Group.
The benchmark Index, ASI, gained by 0.79 per cent from 49,316.29 index points recorded as of the end of last week to close the week at 49,706.09 index points, while the market capitalization close at N27.074 trillion.
This brings the month-to-date performance of the Nigerian stock market to a negative 4.29 per cent and a year-to-date gain of 16.36 per cent
A total of 860.933 million shares valued at N16.134 billion were traded during the week across 14,502 deals. This is greater than the 814.089 million units of shares valued at N12.204 billion that exchanged hands in the previous week in 15,488 deals.
Similar to the previous week, the Financial Services Industry led the activity chart in terms of volume of shares traded with 360.234 million shares valued at N3.772 billion traded in 6,905 deals; thereby contributing 41.84 per cent and 23.38 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.
The Construction/Real Estate Industry followed with 302.200 million shares worth N927.033 million in 261 deals, while the Consumer Goods Industry stood in third place with a turnover of 39.078 million shares worth N1.685 billion in 2,593 deals.
Trading in the top three equities by volume namely UPDC, FBNH, and GTCO accounted for 440.239 million shares worth N1.164 billion in 2,333 deals, contributing 51.13 per cent and 18.69 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.
Similarly, 17 indexes finished higher, except for NGX ASeM and NGX Sovereign Bond Index which remained unchanged.
On the positive Side,Thomas Wyatt Nigerian Plc led top ten gainers with a whopping gain of 42.11 per cent or 24 kobo to close at 81 kobo from 57 kobo the previous week. Royal Exchange followed with a gain of 16.67 per cent or 14 kobo to close from 84 kobo per share the previous week to 98 kobo, while Champion Breweries grew by 14.63 per cent or 60 kobo to close at N4.70 per share from N4.10 per share.
Ardova Plc which followed recorded a gain of 12.57 per cent or N2.10 to close at N18.80 per share from N16.70, While Custodian Investment Plc grew by 11.21 per cent or 60 kobo to close at N5.95 per share from N5.35.
On the Negative side, UPDC led the losers with 8.08 per cent to close at N0.91 per share, Followed by PZ Cussion went down by 8.06 per cent to close at N11.40 per share, While Mutual Benefit Assurance dipped by 6.90 per cent to close at N0.27 per share.
RT.BRISCOE depreciated by 6.90 per cent to close at N0.27 per share NEIMETH Pharmaceutical Industries declined by 6.90 per cent to close at N1.35 per cent.
Forty-one (41) equities appreciated during the week, higher than thirty-two (32) equities in the previous week. Seventeen (17) equities depreciated lower than twenty-eight (28) in the previous week, while ninety-nine (99) equities remained unchanged, higher than ninth-seven (97) equities recorded in the previous week.