By Dipo Olowookere
The 0.22 per cent decline in the banking sector could not bring down the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited at the close of business on Thursday, Business Post reports.
The sector witnessed profit-taking during the trading session but the gains recorded by the others ensured that Customs Street maintained its upward movement by 0.25 per cent yesterday.
The energy index improved during the session by 2.74 per cent, the insurance counter expanded by 0.82 per cent, the industrial goods industry rose by 0.62 per cent, and the consumer goods sector went up by 0.32 per cent.
Consequently, the All-Share Index (ASI) grew by 250.91 per cent to 98,760.59 points from 98,509.68 points and the market capitalisation increased by N152 billion to N59.867 trillion from N59.715 trillion.
Investor sentiment remained bullish on Thursday as the bourse ended with 30 appreciating shares and 21 depreciating shares, implying a positive market breadth index.
The duo of Tantalizers and Conoil gained 10.00 per cent each to sell for N1.76 and N387.20, respectively, Custodian Investment soared by 9.92 per cent to N13.85, Africa Prudential gained 9.79 per cent to quote at N15.70, and Golden Guinea Breweries went up by 9.75 per cent to N7.88.
Conversely, DAAR Communications lost 8.47 per cent to settle at 54 Kobo, Caverton plunged by 8.16 per cent to N1.80, Omatek tumbled by 7.46 per cent to 62 Kobo, ABC Transport crashed by 7.41 per cent to N1.25, and Consolidated Hallmark slipped by 7.11 per cent to N2.22.
It was quite a busy day yesterday at the NGX as market participants engaged in transactions ahead of the festive holidays, with the trading volume, value and number of deals rising by 52.98 per cent, 9.23 per cent, and 4.54 per cent, respectively.
This was because investors transacted 489.7 million stocks valued at N7.1 billion in 8,304 deals during the trading day compared with the 320.1 billion stocks worth N6.5 billion traded in 7,943 deals a day earlier.
Topping the activity log was FCMB with the sale of 77.6 million equities for N698.7 million, eTranzact exchanged 70.1 million shares worth N473.4 million, Haldane McCall transacted 47.8 million stocks valued at N234.3 million, Japaul exchanged 33.6 million equities worth N73.8 million, and Secure Electronic Technology traded 16.8 million stocks valued at N8.8 million.