By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Correspondent
TRADING ON the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) closed on a positive note on Thursday as market capitalisation returned to the N90 trillion mark, with investors recording a gain of N143 billion.
Market data showed that the rebound was supported by renewed investor demand in Guinness Nigeria, Eunisell Interlinked, Regency Alliance Insurance, Thomas Wyatt Nigeria, and 26 other equities.
Market capitalisation advanced from N89.865 trillion on Wednesday to N90.008 trillion at the end of trading.
The All-Share Index (ASI) rose by 226.84 points or 0.16 per cent, closing at 142,263.07, compared with 142,036.23 recorded in the previous session. Market breadth also finished positive with 30 gainers and 20 losers.
Guinness Nigeria led the gainers with a 10 per cent rise to close at N176 per share. Eunisell Interlinked followed with a 9.89 per cent increase to N30.55, while Regency Alliance Insurance gained 9.82 per cent to close at N1.79. Thomas Wyatt Nigeria appreciated by 9.80 per cent to N2.69, while McNicholas rose by 9.58 per cent to N3.86 per share.
On the other hand, Consolidated Hallmark Holdings topped the losers’ table, declining by 7.59 per cent to close at N4.02. The Initiates shed 7.48 per cent to N12, Sovereign Trust Insurance dropped 6.21 per cent to N2.87, Omatek Ventures fell 5.17 per cent to N1.10, and WAPIC Insurance depreciated by 4.19 per cent to N3.20.
Trading activity slowed compared with Wednesday’s session. A total of 325.1 million shares valued at N8.4 billion were exchanged in 22,779 deals, against 1 billion shares worth N24.7 billion transacted in 23,281 deals a day earlier.
Access Corporation emerged the most traded stock with 37.2 million shares worth N1 billion. Zenith Bank followed with 24.3 million shares valued at N1.6 billion, while Fidelity Bank traded 20.5 million shares worth N426 million.
Secure Electronic Technology accounted for 19.8 million shares valued at N15.9 million, and Veritas Kapital Assurance recorded 14.9 million shares worth N32.9 million.
The Nigerian Exchange also released its August domestic and foreign portfolio investment report, showing that activity dropped by 50 per cent to N908.38 billion from N1.82 trillion in July, reflecting the end of domestic block trades.
The report stated that domestic investors accounted for 81 per cent of the market’s activity, while foreign participation stood at 19 per cent.
Meanwhile, the Exchange confirmed that Thursday’s positive close extended its upward run, with Guinness Nigeria Plc, Eunisell Interlinked Plc, and Regency Alliance Insurance Plc leading the session’s gains.
Market capitalisation increased from N89.89 trillion to N90.03 trillion, while the All-Share Index advanced by 0.16 per cent to 142,263.12 points.
Guinness also surged by 9.79 per cent to N46.65 per share, followed by Eunisell Interlinked, which rose 9.60 per cent, and Regency Alliance Insurance, which climbed 9.38 per cent. Other advancing stocks included Sovereign Trust Insurance and Consolidated Hallmark Holdings.
Royal Exchange led the losers, dropping 9.86 per cent to N0.64 per share. Associated Bus Company and Daar Communications also posted losses, alongside Deap Capital Management and African Alliance Insurance.
Total traded volume fell by 44.07 per cent to 377.75 million units, compared with 675.37 million shares in the preceding session. Transaction value also dropped by 23.47 per cent to N7.46 billion.
Financial stocks dominated the day’s activity, with Access Holdings leading in both volume and value. Zenith Bank, Fidelity Bank, FBN Holdings, and United Bank for Africa also ranked high on the chart of most actively traded equities.
