Nigeria’s equities market ended the week on negative note.

The NSE All-Share Index and Market Capitalization depreciated by 1.66% to close the week at 41,709.09 and N21.819 trillion respectively.

All other indices finished lower with the exception of NSE Growth Index which appreciated by 3.26%, while the NSE ASeM Index closed flat.

The number of equities that appreciated in price during the week were 22, lower than 41 equities in the previous week.

Some of the top ten gainers for the week include; McNichols Plc with 43.14%, Jaiz Bank Plc followed with 10.77% while Eterna Plc 10.58%.

Conversely, 60 equities depreciated in price, higher than 34 equities in the previous week, while eighty 80 equities remained unchanged, lower than

86 recorded in the previous week.

Linkage Assurance Plc led the decliners -33.33%. Japaul Gold & Ventures Plc followed with -17.58% while AIICO Insurance Plc  -13.57%.

A total turnover of 2.767 billion shares worth N29.685 billion in 31,380 deals were traded this week by investors on the floor of the Exchange, in contrast to a total of 2.570 billion shares valued at N27.884 billion that exchanged hands last week in 31,466 deals.

The Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 1.924 billion shares valued at N20.344 billion traded in 15,160 deals; thus contributing 69.54% and 68.53% to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

The Conglomerates Industry followed with 264.795 million shares worth N523.521 million in 1,528 deals.

The third place was Consumer Goods Industry, with a turnover of 197.407 million shares worth N3.366 billion in 6,240 deals.

Trading in the top three equities when measured by volume were namely Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, First Bank Holding Plc and Transnational Corporation of Nigeria which accounted for 859.867 million shares worth N4.250 billion in 2,459 deals, contributing 31.08% and 14.32% to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

Lateefah Ibrahim