Equities market took a positive direction yesterday following gains recorded by 21 companies led by Guinness, Dangote Cement and GlaxoSmithKline.
The NSE All-Share Index appreciated by 0.67 per cent or 272.12 points to close at 40,809.32 against the 40,537.20 achieved on Tuesday. Also, the market capitalisation, which opened at N13.385 trillion, rose by N90 billion to close higher at N13.475 trillion.
Guinness topped the gainers’ chart, gaining N6.01 to close at N180 per share. Dangote Cement came second on the gainers’ chart with N6 to close at N225, while GlaxoSmithKline rose by N4.74 to close at N64.74 per share.
Guaranty Trust Bank grew by 90 kobo to close at N28.90, and Champion Breweries gained 43 kobo to close at N9.45 per share.
On the other hand, Nestle topped the losers’ chart, dropping N19.90 to close at N1, 050 per share. Seplat followed with a loss of N10 to close at N640, while Mobil dipped N5.95 to close at N174 per share.
Forte Oil lost N5.85 to close at N219 and Wapco dipped by N1.50 to close at N128.50 per share.
In all, a total of 427.766 million shares valued at N11.90 billion, were exchanged in 4,342 deals, representing an increase of 45.31 per cent, as against a turnover of 294.390 million shares, worth N3.49 billion, achieved in 5,097 deals on Tuesday.
UBA Capital emerged the most traded stock, accounting for 154.38 million shares valued at N324.15 million. It was trailed by AIICO Insurance, which sold 42.62 million shares worth N34.10 million, while NEM Insurance accounted for 27.19 million shares, valued at N22.91 million.
Source : Leadership