The Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) resumed trading activities on Wednesday with a 0.3% gain after a one-day public holiday in commemoration of the Eid al-Maulud.
The equities market traded with a positive sentiment as buying interest in FBN HOLDINGS PLC which upped by 3.8%, drove the All-Share Index (ASI) higher.
Precisely, the ASI advanced by 0.3% or 105.04 basis points to 41,249.71 basis points from 41,144.67 basis points, even as the Market Capitalization advanced by N54 billion to N21,526 trillion from N21,472 trillion.
The total volume of trades increased by 57.6% to 499.51 million units, valued at N5.08 billion, and exchanged in 5,998 deals.
FBN HOLDINGS PLC was the most traded stock by volume and value at 147.60 million units and N1.76 billion, respectively.
As measured by market breadth, market sentiment was positive as 21 stocks gained relative to 19 losers.
To lead the gainers was the NIGERIAN EXCHANGE GROUP, which began at N19.50k per share, but advanced by 1.95k or 10.00 percent to close at N21.45k per share.
It was followed by GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. with a leap from 6.55k per share to N7.00k per share by 0.45k or 6.87 percent.
Then NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC grew by 0.10k or 5.85 percent from a previous selling price of N1.71k per share to N1.81k per share.
On the reverse side, PRESTIGE ASSURANCE PLC fell from 0.47k per share to 0.43k per share by 0.04k or 8.51 percent.
Next was ACADEMY PRESS PLC, declining from 0.36k per share to 0.33k per share by 0.03k or 8.33 percent.
CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC lost 0.05k or 8.33 percent to close at 0.55k per share from 0.60k per share.
Sectoral performance was broadly negative, as the Oil & Gas index fell by 0.4%; Consumer Goods index dropped by 0.2%, while Banking index fell by 0.2%.
Meanwhile the Insurance index gained 0.6%, while the Industrial Goods index closed flat.
