The equities segment of the Nigerian Stock Exchange advanced on Wednesday for the third straight session this week.
At the close of trading, the NSE All-Share Index rose by 1.09 per cent or 424.53 basis points to close at 39,397.09 basis points.
In the same vein, the market capitalisation of the listed equities appreciated by N125bn to close at N12.655tn, up from N12.530tn the previous day.
The banking sub-sector led the activity chart in terms of volume traded. With 118.077 million shares worth N1.526bn traded in 1,969 deals, the sub-sector accounted for 38.92 per cent of the 303.346 million equities traded for the day.
Volume in the sub-sector was driven by trading in the shares of Zenith International Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and Access Bank Plc.
Fidelity Bank Plc and United Bank for Africa Plc also recorded a high volume turnover in the sub-sector.
In all, 33 equities recorded price appreciation while 19 others recorded price depreciation.
Fidelity Bank Plc led the gainers, rising by 6.73 per cent or 14 kobo to close at N2.22 per share.
PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc and Eterna Plc rose by 4.99 per cent and 4.86 per cent to close at N37.26 and N3.88 per share, respectively.
Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc was up by 4.82 per cent or eight kobo to close at N1.74, while Access Bank Plc and Learn Africa Plc rose by 4.74 per cent and 4.68 per cent to close at N8.40 and N1.79 per share in that order.
On the flip side, Costain (West Africa) Plc led the losers after it shed 4.74 per cent or nine kobo to close at N1.81.
It was followed by Evans Medical Plc, which fell by 4.70 per cent or 14 kobo to close at N2.84 per share.
GNI Plc and International Energy Insurance Plc recorded share price depreciation of 4.69 per cent and 4.23 per cent to close at 61 kobo and 68 kobo per share, respectively, while Total Nigeria Plc declined by 3.88 per cent or N6.99 to close at N173 per share.
Source: Punch (by Simon Ejembi)