Stock market garners strength, gains N7bn

Investors in the nation’s stock market recorded a slight gain of N7 billion on Thursday as the market capitalisation of equities increased to N13.365 trillion from N13.358 trillion recorded on Wednesday.

The market closed the trading session on a positive note as the All Share Index marginally rose by 0.05 per cent to settle at 27,424.92 basis points, following buying interest in MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, Cement Company of Northern Nigeria Plc and Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc.

The market year-to-date loss improved to -12.7 per cent as activity level strengthened.

Volume and value traded rose by 116.8 per cent and 127 per cent to 279.633 million units and N2.68bn, respectively.

The most traded stocks by volume were FBN Holdings Plc (58.9 million units), Zenith Bank Plc (39 million units) and Access Bank Plc (29.3 million units) while the most traded stocks by value were Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (N804.6m), Zenith Bank (N664.6m) and MTN Nigeria (N388.2m).

Performance across sectors was bearish as four sectors closed on a negative note.

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The banking index led laggards, shedding 2.89 per cent following losses in Zenith Bank, GTB and Access Bank Plc.

The oil and gas index depreciated by 0.67 per cent due to price depreciation in Forte Oil Plc and Oando Plc.

Similarly, the insurance and consumer goods indices fell by 0.38 per cent and 0.31 per cent, respectively, on the back of sell-offs in Continental Reinsurace Plc and Guinness Nigeria Plc.

On the flip side, bargain hunting in Cement Company of Northern Nigeria drove the industrial goods index 0.34 per cent higher.

However, the AFR-ICT index sustained gains, up by 1.9 per cent following buying interest in MTN Nigeria.

Investor sentiment weakened to 0.4x from 0.7x recorded in the prior trading session on Wednesday as nine gainers outshined 23 losers.

The top gainers on Thursday were AXA Mansard Insurance Company, Jaiz Bank Plc, FCMB Group Plc, Chams Plc and Wema Bank Plc, with respective gains of 9.09 per cent, 5.26 per cent, 4.35 per cent, four per cent and 3.64 per cent.

The top losers were Africa Prudential Plc, Guinness, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc, United Capital and UACN Property Development Company Plc, whose share prices declined by 10 per cent, 10 per cent, 10 per cent, 9.95 per cent and 9.68 per cent, respectively.

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