The market capitalization of the Nigerian Exchange’s equities market hit ₦50.28 trillion on Thursday, rising by 2.04% on the day.
Dangote Cement Plc (NGX: DANGCEM) and BUA Cement Plc (NGX: BUACEMENT) once again recorded maximum gains, to ensure the local bourse made it 4 gains out of four trading days in the week.
The bull run that heralded the new year therefore continued on as the NGX ASI advanced by 2.04% to close at yet 90,063.25 points.
Also read; Dangote Cement Plc regains top spot as the most capitalized stock on the Nigerian Exchange
The market capitalization grew by the same percentage points, adding ₦1.00 trillion to close the day at ₦50.28 trillion, just shy of the ₦50 trillion mark.
Year-to-date, the index has now risen by 22.90%, while Investors’ has seen ₦9.37 trillion added to their wealth.
Dangote Cement Plc (NGX: DANGCEM) and BUA Cement Plc (NGX: BUACEMENT) enjoyed maximum gains on Thursday, advancing by 8.27% and 8.96% respectively to close the day at ₦489.90 and ₦135.00.
Activity Level
The activity level was mixed of volume of shares traded decreased while the value of shares traded increased.
The volume of shares traded decreased by 12.16%, the value of shares traded and no of deals done increased by 17.78% and 1.91% respectively.
By the end of trading, 1.14 billion shares valued at ₦19.29 billion had exchanged hands in 17,804 deals.
Shares of Transnational Corporation Plc (NGX: TRANSCORP), Universal Insurance Plc (UNIVINSURE), and Veritas Kapital Assurance Plc (NGX: VERITASKAP) were the most traded stocks by volume with 156.62 million, 114.54 million and 69.41 million shares respectively.
Shares of Transnational Corporation Plc (NGX: TRANSCORP), Guarany Trust Holding Company Plc (NGX: GUARANTY) and Zenith Bank Plc (NGX: ZENITHBANK) were the most traded by value, with their shares worth ₦2.96 billion, ₦2.88 billion and ₦1.62 Billion respectively exchanging hands.
Top gainers and losers
In the day’s trading session, 37 stocks advanced against 42 decliners.
The top five gainers were;
- Conoil plc (NGX: CONOIL): It gained 10% to close at ₦112.20.
- John Holt Plc (NGX: JOHNHOLT): It gained 10% to close at ₦2.53.
- NEM Insurance Plc (NGX: NEM): It gained 10% to close at ₦8.25.
- Eterna Plc (NGX: ETERNA): It gained 10% to close at ₦20.90.
- Unity Bank Plc (NGX: UNITYBNK): It gained 10% to close at ₦3.30.
The top five losers on were;
- Ikeja Hotel Plc (NGX: IKEJAHOTEL): It lost 9.79% to close at ₦8.11.
- Royal Exchange Plc (NGX: ROYALEX): It lost 9.78% to close at ₦0.83.
- Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc (NGX: MBENEFIT): It lost 9.57% to close at ₦0.85.
- Linkage Assurance Plc (NGX: LINKASSURE): It lost 9.40% to close at ₦1.35.
- Japaul Gold and Ventures Plc (NGX: JAPAULGOLD): It lost 9.33% to close at ₦2.43.
Three of the indices under our watch closed positively, while two declined.
- Banking Index: The index lost 1.89% to close at 1,043.54 points (YTD: +16.31%).
- Industrial Index: The industrial index gained 7.83% to close at 3,955.13 points (YTD: +45.82%).
- Consumer Goods Index: The index advanced by 0.87% to 1,382.32 points (YTD: 23.28%).
- Oil & Gas Index: It gained 2.69% to 1,092.34 points (YTD: +4.72%).
- Insurance Index: The index lost 2.11% to 454.53 points (YTD: +41.31%).
Nnamdi Maduakor is a Writer, Investor and Entrepreneur
