The gains recorded in equity trading activities of the Nigerian Stock Exchange last week, continued on Monday with major indicators appreciating marginally.

The market capitalisation of the listed equities rose by 0.14 per cent or N11bn from N8.066tn recorded on Friday, to N8.077tn.

Similarly, the NSE All-Share Index gained 0.14 per cent or 36.65 basis points to close at 25,337.18 points, up from 25,373.83 points recorded last Friday.

The NSE-30 Index also gained 0.1 per cent or 0.80 basis points from 1,192.88 points to 1,193.88 points, while the NSE Insurance Index rose by 2.9 per cent or to 127.04 basis points up from 126.41 recorded the preceding week.

The appreciation in the indices was as a result of gains recorded by major stocks as 31 stocks recorded price appreciation, while only 17 stocks lost.

Royal Exchange Plc recorded the highest price appreciation of the day, rising by five per cent or three kobo to close at 63 kobo per share.

International Breweries Plc followed on the chart, rising by five per cent or 68 kobo to close at N14.28 per share.

Roads Nigeria Plc, Diamond Bank Plc and Union Bank of Nigeria Plc gained 4.9 per cent each to close at N10.22, N3.43 and N7.53 per share, while UACN Property Development Company Plc and Fidson Plc rose by 4.7 per cent and 4.6 per cent to close at N11.01 and N1.10 per share in that order.

Cadbury Nigeria Plc, on the other hand, lost the highest for the day, shedding 4.9 per cent or N1.07 to close at N20.70 per share.

May and Baker Nigeria Plc fell by 4.8 per cent or eight kobo to close at N20.37 per share.

NPF Microfinance Bank and AG Leventis Plc lost 4.8 per cent each to close at N1.00 and N1.29 per share, while Sterling Bank Plc and Ashaka Cement Plc fell by 4.4 per cent each to close at N1.31 and N12.22 per share in that order.

The banking sub-sector maintained its lead on the activity chart, accounting for 55 per cent of total volume traded on Monday.

In the sub-sector, investors traded 199.99 million shares, worth N1.887bn in 2,539 deals.

Turnover in the sub-sector was driven by trading in the shares of First Bank, Diamond Bank Plc and Zenith Bank Plc.

Source: Punch/Udeme Ekwere