NGX All-Share index up 0.55%, investors gain N303bn

Resuming from the Worker’s Day holiday, the domestic bourse on Thursday maintained a bull run as the All-Share index increased by 0.55 percent, or 537 points, to close at 98,762.78.

This figure is in contrast to the 98,225.63 posted on Tuesday.

Consequently, the market capitalization, which opened at N55.553 trillion, gained N303 billion, or 0.55 percent, to close at N55.856 trillion.

The year-to-date (YTD) return also rose to 32.08 percent.

Sustained interest in Tier-one banking stocks such as the United Bank of Africa (UBA), Zenith Bank, Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO), and FBN Holdings, as well as Presco Plc, Julius Berger, and Flour Mill, among others, contributed to the positive performance of the market.

Meanwhile, the market breadth closed positive, with 29 advanced equities outnumbering 14 declined ones on the floor of the exchange.

On the gainers table, Flour Mill and Presco led by 10 percent each to close at N33.55 and 229.9 per share, respectively, followed closely by Sterling Nigeria with 9.98 percent to close at N4.74 per share.

Dangote Sugar rose by 9.90 percent to close at N42.75, and FIDSON Healthcare Plc gained 9.76 percent to close at N15.75 per share.

On the other side, National Salt Company of Nigeria (NASCON) led the losers table by 9.99 percent to close at N47.30, while UPL trailed closely by 9.29 percent to close at N2.05 per share.

Omatek Venture declined by 9.21 percent to close at 69k, Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals shed 9.09 percent to close at N1.80, and Cutix dropped 7.74 percent to close at N2.86 per share.

Analysis of the market activities, however, showed trade turnover settled lower relative to the previous session, with the value of transactions down by 62.86 percent.

A total of 665.20 million shares valued at N5.54 billion were exchanged in 8,446 deals, as against 552.21 million shares valued at N14.92 billion, exchanged in 9,350 deals.

Abbey Mortgage Bank led the activity table in volume with 362.82 million shares valued at N907.05 million, followed by Access Corporation with 54.47 million shares worth N954.62 million, to lead by value.

Veritas Kapital transacted 38.75 million shares valued at N23.06 million; Nigeria Breweries sold 31.21 million shares worth N802.43; and Transnational Corporation traded 26.62 million shares worth N377.39.