Trading on the Nigerian Stock Exchange closed south Wednesday as the All share Index (ASI) declined by 2.3 per cent or 669.35 points to close at 28,807 points while market capitalization lost N230 billion to close at N9.7 trillion.
Similarly, all sectoral indices closed negative. The NSE Lotus Islamic index led the sectoral losses with the most declined by 3.2 per cent to close at 2,047.62 points, followed by NSE consumer Goods Index which lost 2.7 per cent to close at 706.96 points.
NSE Premium Index, Industrial Index and Pension Index also dropped 2.6 per cent each to close at 1,546.52, 2,124.82, and 827.16 points respectively.
The NSE 30 Index likewise depreciated 2.5 per cent to close at 1,251.64 while the NSE Main-Board Index, and the Banking index declined 2.2 per cent each to close at 1,319.20 and 272.96 points respectively.
The NSE Oil and Gas Index fell 1.6 per cent to close at 327.74 points while NSE Insurance Index reduced 0.7 per cent to close at 130.51 points.
The Alternative Securities Market closed flat.
Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc. led six equity gainers as it appreciated by 4.97 per cent or 30 kobo to close at N6.34 per share followed by Wema Bank Plc which gained 3.45 per cent or 3 kobo to close at 90 kobo per share.
Costain WA Plc also gained 3.39 per cent or 2 kobo to close at 61 kobo per share, while Vitafoam Nigeria Plc added 2.13 per cent or 12 kobo to close N5.75 per share. FCMB also increased 1.92 per cent or 4 kobo to close at N2.12 per share.
On the other hand, 47 companies led by PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc were recorded as equity losers in the course of today’s transactions.
PZ declined by 9.69 per cent or N2.48 to close at N23.11 per share while Northeren Nig. Flour Mills Plc lost 9.66 per cent or N1.12 kobo to close at N10.47 per share.
FBN Holdings Plc depreciated 7.76 per cent or 44 kobo to close at N5.23 per share while Transcorp Plc lost 6.22 per cent or 13 kobo to close at N1.96 per share. UBA Capital Plc also dropped 5 per cent or 6 kobo to close at N1.14 per share.
In all, investors on the floor of the NSE traded N483.7 million shares worth N5.1 billion in 4,673 deals.
By Pita Ochai
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