By Peter OBIORA InvestAdvocate

Lagos (INVESTADVOCATE)- Nigerian equities on Wednesday closed on red amidst blue chip losses as the Nigerian Stock Exchange all-share index (NSE ASI) declined by 0.22 to close at 34,965.88 points, while the market capitalisation decreased by N26.05 billion to close at N11.91trillion.

With the loss at the end of today’s session, current market Year-to-Date (Y-t-D) returns dropped to 0.89 percent compared to a positive 1.11 percent recorded the previous session.

Cordros update says only one (1) of the NSE Sectoral indices appreciated. “The Insurance index was the only gainer with a 0.53 percent increase,” the report said.

On the contrary, the Industrial and Consumer Goods indices recorded marginal losses of 0.56 percent and 0.41 percent respectively. In the same vein, the Banking and Oil/Gas indices recorded slight losses of 0.34 percent and 0.15 percent respectively.

At the close of today’s transaction on the Nigerian bourse, market breadth posted a positive outlook; recording 33 gainers and 24 losers. Berger Paints Nigeria Plc emerged top gainer with a gain of 0.48 kobo, while oil marketing firm, Forte Oil Plc topped the losers chart with a loss of N10.75 kobo.

In terms of turnover, Nigerian equities volume traded grew by 17.09 percent to 290.81million shares, valued at N3.73 billion shares and traded in 4,659 deals.

“Today’s trade, with more gainers and increased volume, signal the possibility of gains returning tomorrow,” the Cordros update affirmed.