The Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) continued its presence in the red territory on Thursday as investors counted losses valued at N671 billion at the close of trading on Thursday, October 3.

The market capitalisation dropped 1.19% to N55.7 trillion from N56.4 trillion recorded by the bourse on Wednesday, while the benchmark All-Share Index (ASI) also decreased to 97,064.42 from 98,232.39 recorded the previous trading day.

The market breadth was negative as 23 stocks advanced and 27 stocks declined, while 65 stocks remained unchanged in 8,565 deals.

Investors sold mostly industrial and consumer goods stocks despite the rally seen in oil & gas and insurance stocks.

Dangote Cement Plc decreased most on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) by N53.20 or 10%, from N532 to N478.80. It was followed by CWG which decreased from N6.50 to N6.20, adding 30kobo or 4.62%.

Seplat, Livestock, and Regalins led other gainers with 10%, 9.93%, and 9.76% growth each in share prices to close at N4, 513.40, N2.99, and N0.90 from the previous N4, 103.10, N2.72, and N0.82 per share.

On the flip side, Dangote Cement, NSL Tech, and UPDC Real Estate led other price decliners as they shed 10%, 7.58%, and 4.72% each to close at N478.80, N0.61 and N5.05 from the initial N532.00, N0.66, and N5.30 per share.

On the volume index, United Bank for Africa (UBA) led trading with 37 million shares valued at N993 million in 909 deals followed by ZENITH BANK which traded 19 million shares valued at N716 million in 323 deals. Dean Capital traded 13 million shares valued at N20 million in 159 deals.

On the value index, Seplat recorded the highest value for the day trading stocks worth N2.3 billion in 13 deals followed by UBA which traded equities worth N993 million in 909 deals and Zenith Bank traded shares valued at N716 million in 323 deals.

Profit-taking weakened the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) by 0.33 percent on Wednesday as sell-offs persisted in 32 stocks.

As a result of this, the NGX market capitalisation of the stock market lost N187 billion to close at N56.448 trillion from N56.635 trillion.

The All-Share Index (ASI) also shed 0.33 percent or 327 points to close at 98,232.39, against 98,558.79 reported on Monday. The market didn’t trade on Tuesday (October 1) due to the 64th Independence Day celebration.

Investors King analysis of the market activities showed trade turnover settled lower, relative to the previous session, with the value of transactions down by 92.43 percent.

A total of 425.76 million shares valued at N8.45 billion were exchanged by investors in 11,954 deals, in contrast to 1.86 billion shares valued at N111.58 billion were exchanged in 10,583 deals posted previously.

Market breadth also closed negative with 32 losers and 26 gainers.

On the losers’ chart, Ellah Lakes led by 9.93 percent to close at N3.99 per share, while International Breweries led the gainers’ chart by 9.98 percent to close at N4.41 per share.

International Breweries emerged as the highest price gainer of 9.98 percent to close at N4.41, per share.

Meyer followed with a gain of 9.94 percent to close at N8.52, while Veritas Kapital Assurance increased by 9.93 percent to close at N1.66, per share.

Tripple Gee and Company rose by 9.91 percent to close at N4.99, while Deap Capital Management & Trust appreciated by 9.84 percent to close at N1.34, per share.

For the gainers, Ellah Lakes led others on the losers’ chart with 9.93 percent to close at N3.99, per share. Caverton Offshore Support Group followed with a decline of 9.92 percent to close at N2.18, while ABC Transport shed 9.57 percent to close at N1.04, per share.

Livestock Feeds depreciated by 9.03 percent to close at N2.72, while Consolidated Hallmark Holdings dipped by 7.24 percent to close at N1.41, per share.

On indices performance, the NGX Banking Index dropped by two percent and NGX Oil & Gas Index was down by 0.1  percent, while the NGX Consumer Goods Index added 1.1 percent and NGX Insurance Index appreciated by one percent. The NGX Industrial Goods index closed flat.

Access Holdings Plc has announced an interim dividend of 45 kobo for every ordinary share of 50 kobo held in the company in the first half (H1) of 2024.

With 35.545 billion in outstanding shares, this translates to N15.99 billion in interim dividend. However, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhued, the chairman of Access Holdings, will take home N1.151 billion in dividend.

The chairman presently holds 119,231,715 direct shares and 2,438,256,720 indirect shares in the company, according to the company’s latest financial statement obtained by Investors King.

According to the lender, subject to appropriate withholding tax the dividend will be paid to shareholders whose names appear on the Register of Members at the close of business on Thursday, October 3, 2024.

The bank will pay dividends on Thursday, October 17, 2024 to all shareholders whose names appear on the Register of Members at the close of business on Thursday, October 3, 2024.

These shareholders are expected to have completed the e-dividend registration and mandated the Registrar to pay their dividends directly into their bank accounts.

However, shareholders who are yet to complete the e-dividend registration are advised to download the Registrar’s E-Dividend Mandate Activation Form, which is also available on https://theaccesscorporation.com/ and complete and submit it to either the Registrar, their respective Banks or any Access Bank Plc branch.

Shareholders with dividend warrants and share certificates that have remained unclaimed or are yet to be presented for payment or returned for validation are advised to complete the e-dividend registration or contact the Registrar.

Access Holdings grew profit after tax by 108% to N347.922 billion from N167.601 billion filed in H1 2023 while gross earnings jumped 133.5% from N940.311 billion in the first half (H1) of 2023 to N2.196 trillion in H1 2024.