Trading on the Nigerian Stock Exchange closed on a negative note Thursday as the All Share Index (ASI) dipped 0.98 per cent to close at 29,747.57 points against yesterday’s 0.23 per cent loss to close at 30,042.38 points.
Investors at the Exchange traded 2.9 billion shares valued at N5.3 billion in 4,014 deals to bring market capitalization to N10.2 trillion.
There were 16 gainers led by Skye Bank Plc which rose 7.95 per cent or 14 kobo to close at N1.90 per share, followed by Nestle Nigeria Plc with an increase of 5 per cent or N42 to close at N882 per share.
Paint and Coatings Manufacturers Plc likewise appreciated by 5 per cent or 5 kobo to close at N1.05 per share as Access Bank Plc gained 4.91 per cent or 20 kobo to close at N4.27 per share while AIICO Insurance Plc grew 4.82 per cent or 4 kobo to close at N87 per share.
Evans Medical Plc led 27 equity losers as it declined 8.22 per cent or 6 kobo to close at 67 kobo, trailed by Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc with a loss of 7.59 per cent or 18 kobo to close at N2.19 per share
Wema Bank Plc. declined 7.06 per cent or 6 kobo to close at 79 kobo, while Champion Plc lost 5.33 per cent or 24 kobo to close at N4.26.
Moreover, Academy Press Plc dropped 5 per cent or 4 kobo to close at 76 kobo per share.
The top three traders by volume on the exchange floor are Equity Assurance Plc with a sale of 2.53 billion shares worth N1.3 billion followed by Zenith Bank Plc which exchanged 62.8 million shares valued at N1 billion while Access Bank Plc traded 52 million shares priced at N221.04 million.
By Pita Ochai
[divider]