The Nigerian equities market kicked off this week’s trading activities with positive sentiments.
Consequently, the All-Share Index closed 0.20% stronger to close at 52,319.94 basis points, while the market capitalization gained ₦56.53bn to close at ₦28.21trn.
The market’s positive performance was primarily driven by gains in SEPLAT ENERGY PLC which increased by 10.00%.
Other factors that also influenced the day’s performance were investor’s interests in GUARANTY TRUST HOLDING COMPANY PLC, FBN HOLDINGS PLC and UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC which outweighed selloffs in NIGERIAN BREWERIES PLC, MTN NIGERIA COMMUNICATIONS PLC and ZENITH BANK PLC.
The total volume traded stood at 116.28 million units, valued at ₦3.46 billion, and exchanged in 4,525 deals.
UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC was the most traded stock by volume at 12.93 million units of shares, while SEPLAT ENERGY PLC was the most traded stock by value at ₦1.33 billion.
However, market sentiment, as measured by market breadth, was negative with 22 declining stocks relative to 16 gainers.
The top three losers for Monday’s transactions were led by CWG PLC which declined 10.00% or 0.09k from 0.90k per share to 0.81k per share.
Followed by ACADEMY PRESS PLC which fell from ₦2.21 to ₦2.00, losing 0.21k or 9.50%.
Then HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC trailed with a 9.09% or 0.25k fall to close at ₦2.50k per share from previous selling price of ₦2.75k per share.
Conversely, SEPLAT ENERGY PLC led today’s gainers by 10.00% or ₦130.00, rising from ₦1,300.50k per share to ₦1,430.50k per share.
CORNERSTONE INSURANCE PLC followed with a 8.77% or 0.05k gain to close at 0.62k per share from 0.57k per share.
And R T BRISCOE PLC was next with 8.11 or 0.03k gain from 0.37k per share to 0.40k per share.
Performance across sectors was mixed, as the Consumer Goods and Insurance indices declined by 0.6% and 0.5%, while the Oil & Gas index advanced 4.0%. The Banking and Industrial Goods indices closed flat.
Hauwa Abu
