Transactions on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) started the week Monday on a positive note as the All share Index (ASI) appreciated 2.3 per cent to close at 30,369.97 basis points compared with 0.91 per cent gained on Friday to close at 29,689.08 basis points.
Market Capitalization also gained N234.1 billion to close at N10.44 trillion compared to N92.2 billion to close at N10.2 trillion on Friday.
All of the sectoral indices appreciated today except the NSE Insurance Index which lost 1 per cent to close at 132.95 points while the NSE ASeM Index flat.
The NSE Main-Board Index, NSE 30 Index, Banking Index, Consumer Goods Index, and Pension Index gained 3 per cent each to close at 1434.43, 1368.25, 320.78, 772.59 and 946.33 points respectively, while the NSE Oil/Gas Index and Industrial Index added 2 per cent to close at 30.67 and 2,164.27 points correspondingly.
The NSE Premium Index and Lotus Islamic Index sectoral increased one per cent to close at 1,646.75 and 2,018.63 points accordingly.
Guinness Nigeria Plc continued on a gaining streak for the 4th consecutive trading session after Diageo’s announcement to up its stake in the company, leading 42 equity gainers with a 10.24 per cent or N15.58 appreciation to close at N167.77 followed by Conoil Plc which added 10.20 per cent or N2.63 to close at N28.41, while Cement Company of Northern Nigeria increased 9.84 per cent or 82 kobo to close at N9.15 per share.
Transcorp Plc gained 6.96 per cent or 16 kobo to close at N2.46 per share while Evans Medical Plc gained 5.56 per cent or 4 kobo to close at 76 kobo per share.
Conversely, Greif Nigeria Plc led 11 equity gainers as it depreciated 4.92 per cent or 51 kobo to close at N9.86 per share followed by Axamansard Insurance Plc which depreciated 4.86 per cent or 12 kobo to close at N2.35 per share, while Ikeja Hotel Plc decreased 4.75 per cent or 18 kobo to close at N3.61 per share.
Cadbury Plc declined 4.74 per cent or N1.09 kobo to close at N21.91 while E-Tranzact Plc also dropped 4.74 per cent or 10 kobo to close at N2.01 per share.
Altogether, Investors exchanged 254.7 million shares worth N3.8 billion in 3,798 deals.
By Pita Ochai
[divider]