- Equities Rally N29b Gain Amid Bargain-hunting
Nigerian equities yesterday broke a two-day downtrend with a net capital gain of N29 billion as investors sought to take advantage of low share prices. With more companies releasing their half-year results, investors traded on a tit-for-tat to moderate the downtrend that had shaped transactions in the previous trading sessions.
Average gain yesterday stood at 0.22 per cent, equivalent to net capital gain of N29 billion. Average year-to-date return, though still negative, improved marginally to -4.75 per cent.
The All Share Index (ASI)-the value-based index that tracks share prices at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), increased from its opening index of 36,346.80 points to close at 36,427.22 points. Aggregate market value of all quoted equities improved from N13.167 trillion to close at N13.196 trillion. With 20 gainers and losers each, the positive overall market position was driven by gains recorded by large-cap stocks.
Sectoral indices showed considerable underlying positive trend as all indices closed on the upside. The NSE Banking Index and NSE Insurance Index rose by 0.8 per cent each. The NSE Consumer Index and NSE Industrial Goods Index appreciated by 0.2 per cent while the NSE Oil and Gas Index inched up by 0.1 per cent.
Nestle Nigeria led the gainers with a gain of N51 to close at N1,501. Cement Company of Northern Nigeria appreciated by N2.30 to close at N28.50. NASCON Allied Industries rose by 50 kobo to close at N20.50. Zenith Bank increased by 45 kobo to close at N23.70. Cutix gathered 39 kobo to close at N4.38 while FBN Holdings rose to 25 kobo to close at N9.65 per share.
On the downside, International Breweries led the losers with a drop of N2 to close at N35.50. Flour Mills of Nigeria followed with a loss of N1.50 to close at N27.20. Dangote Cement declined by N1 to close at N234. Custodian Investment lost 54 kobo to close at N5.56 while Dangote Sugar Refinery and Nigerian Breweries dipped by 50 kobo each to close at N15 and N104 respectively.
Total turnover stood at 171.22 million shares valued at N2.98 billion in 3,595 deals. Zenith Bank was the most active stock with a turnover of 30.29 million shares worth N717.23 million. United Bank for Africa followed with a turnover of 21.71 million shares worth N205.71 million while FCMB Group placed third with 19.01 million shares worth N35.97 million.
“We expect the market to close the week in the green, supported by bargain hunting in fundamentally sound stocks as observed in today (Thursday)’s trading session,” Afrinvest Securities stated.
