Equities transactions on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) resumed the week on a negative note, as key indicators depreciated by 0.33 per cent compared with the increase of 0.23 per cent achieved last Friday.
Specifically, the NSE All Share Index lost 90.43 points to close at 27,179.28 points against 63.76 points gained previously to close at 27,269.71 points, while Market Capitalization declined by N31.1 billion to close at N9.34 trillion against N21.9 billion added previously to close at N9.4 trillion.
Eight of the sectoral Indices led by the NSE Oil/Gas Index which declined by 2 per cent likewise closed south. The NSE Industrial index and Consumer Goods Index appreciated by 0.6 per cent and 0.2 per cent respectively, while the NSE ASeM Index remained flat.
Market breadth closed the day with 15 gainers against 23 losers. Tiger Brands Plc., spurred by its latest announcement of a possible N10 billion cash injection by Dangote Industries Limited halted a near one month loss to top the gainers chart with an increase of 9.57 per cent or 11 kobo to close at N1.26 per share followed by Berger Plc., which added 4.97 per cent or 49 kobo to close at N10.34 per share, while Vanleer Plc., gained 4.91 per cent or 46 kobo to close at N9.83 per share.
Ikeja Hotel Plc appreciated by 4.78 per cent or 15 kobo to close at N3.29 per share while Law Union Plc., increased by 4.48 per cent or 3 kobo to close at 70 kobo per share.
Conversely, Eterna Plc led the losers chart with a decline of 5.03 per cent or 9 kobo to close at N1.70 per share trailed by Oando Plc., which depreciated by 5.00 per cent or 27 kobo to close at N5.13 per share while Livestock Plc., dropped 4.96 per cent or 7 kobo to close at N1.34 per share.
Nigerian Police Microfinance Bank Plc., lost 4.95 per cent or 5 kobo to close at 96 kobo per share while Vitafoam Plc., fell 4.90 per cent or 24 kobo to close at N4.66 per share.
In summary, investors on the Nigeria Stock Exchange traded a total of 417.8 million shares valued at N2.974 billion in 2,710 deals against 141.4 million shares valued at N3.1 billion exchanged in 2,843 deals previously.
By Pita Ochai