By Dipo Olowookere
Last week, a total of 2.651 billion equities valued at N49.976 billion were traded in 41,610 deals by investors at the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited, in contrast to the 3.301 billion equities worth N53.157 billion transacted in 27,536 deals in the preceding week.
It was observed that the financial services Industry led the activity chart with 1.847 billion shares valued at N30.455 billion traded in 21,899 deals, contributing 69.67 per cent and 60.94 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value, respectively.
The conglomerates space followed with 272.398 million shares worth N3.546 billion in 2,165 deals, and the third place was the energy sector, with a turnover of 112.800 million shares worth N2.259 billion in 2,748 deals.
Trading in FBN Holdings, Transcorp, and Access Holdings accounted for 1.032 billion shares worth N19.799 billion in 6,083 deals, contributing 38.92 per cent and 39.62 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value, respectively.
In the week, the All-Share Index (ASI) and the market capitalisation appreciated by 0.32 per cent to close at 100,057.49 points and N56.602 trillion, respectively.
Similarly, all other indices finished higher except the consumer goods, industrial goods, and growth which depreciated by 0.56 per cent, 0.33 per cent and 0.04 per cent, respectively, while the ASeM and sovereign bond indices closed flat.
Forty-eight stocks appreciated during the week versus 53 stocks in the previous week, 34 equities depreciated compared with 25 equities in the previous week, and 72 shares closed flat versus 76 shares of the preceding week.
CWG gained 44.55 per cent to close at N7.95, FTN Cocoa rose by 22.39 per cent to N1.64, United Capital increased by 21.84 per cent to N26.50, John Holt chalked up 20.31 per cent to finish at N3.14, and Mutual Benefits soared by 19.64 per cent to 67 Kobo.
Conversely, Jaiz Bank dropped 11.36 per cent to settle at N1.95, DAAR Communications retreated by 10.53 per cent to 51 Kobo, Champion Breweries shrank by 10.49 per cent to N3.50, University Press fell by 9.09 per cent to N2.50, and Beta Glass depreciated by 8.62 per cent to N53.00.