Equity market investors gain N954bn in one week

The Nigerian equity market was in the green zone last week, as investors gained N954bn.

At the end of the week, the market capitalisation and the All-Share Index appreciated by 0.02 per cent to close at N56.17tn and 99,300 points, respectively.

During the week, investors traded 2.19 billion shares worth N31.30bn in 39,362 deals on the exchange floor.

The financial services industry with 1.91 billion shares worth N23.92bn exchanged in 21,717 deals, led the activity chart as evaluated by volume.

This industry contributed 76.42 per cent and 87.41 per cent, respectively, to the overall stock turnover value and volume.

The oil and gas sector came next with 2,109 sales, totalling 55.35 million shares valued at N3.09bn.

Similarly, the agriculture industry ranked third with a turnover of 45.09 million shares in 1,615 deals, valued at N377.62m.

The top three equities, Abbey Mortgage Bank, Access Holdings and Zenith Bank were the most traded measured by volume, amounting to 1.13 billion shares worth N14.91bn in 6,494 deals.

These shares contributed 51.57 per cent and 47.64 per cent, respectively, to the overall equity turnover volume and value.

Performance was generally positive across sectoral indices, except the Industrial Index, which dipped by 0.13 per cent.

The sectoral indices that closed in the green zone were the banking sector, appreciating by 8.72 per cent, the conglomerates’ industry increased by 2.04 per cent, and the oil and gas increased by 9.08 per cent.

At the close of the week, some of the best-performing stocks included Fidelity Bank, which gained 22.89 per cent to close at N 10.20, Dangote Sugar Refinery, whose stocks appreciated by 20.51 per cent to N 47 per unit and NASCON Allied Insurance which rose by 20.15 per cent to close at N40.85.

On the decliner’s chart were C & I Leasing, which lost 13.66 per cent to close at N2.97, NPF Microfinance Bank depreciated by 11.11 per cent to N1.60 and FTN Cocoa Processor gained 8.33 per cent to N1.10.

During the week, AIICO Insurance and Sovereign Trust Insurance proposed a final dividend of N0.05, and N0.03 respectively for their shareholders.