The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited rebounded by 023 per cent on Friday on the back of renewed bargain-hunting amid cautious trading by investors.
During the session, the trio of NAHCO, The Initiates, and Cadbury Nigeria, appreciated by 10.00 per cent each to sell for N82.50, N4.95, and N31.90 apiece, as Beta Glass gained 9.96 per cent to quote at N109.80, and Caverton flew by 9.92 per cent to N2.66.
Conversely, DAAR Communications lost 10.00 per cent to trade at 54 Kobo, Vitafoam Nigeria declined by 9.94 per cent to N47.55, Multiverse shed 9.93 per cent to finish at N6.35, Eterna deflated by 9.91 per cent to N45.00, and Ecobank gave up 9.72 per cent to settle at N26.00.
At the close of transactions, a total of 29 equites ended on the gainers’ chart and 40 equities finished on the losers’ table, representing a negative market breadth index and weak investor sentiment.
The bourse was very busy on Friday after it resumed trading from the one-day break on Thursday for Workers’ Day.
A total of 565.3 million shares worth N15.0 billion exchanged hands in 18,367 deals versus the 393.0 million shares valued at N12.8 billion transacted on Wednesday in 17,519 deals, indicating a surge in the trading volume, value, and number of deals by 43.84 per cent, 17.19 per cent, and 4.84 per cent, respectively.
The busiest stock for the session was Access Holdings with 52.8 million units valued at N1.2 billion, Chams sold 51.6 million units worth N108.9 million, UBA transacted 36.0 million units for N1.3 billion, FCMB exchanged 34.5 million units valued at N314.5 million, and GTCO traded 31.9 million units worth N2.1 billion.
Business Post reports that the insurance sector shrank by 3.50 per cent, the banking index crashed by 1.49 per cent, and the energy counter went down by 0.17 per cent.
However, the consumer goods, the commodity and the industrial goods indices were up by 2.03 per cent, 0.61 per cent and 0.08 per cent, respectively.
Consequently, the All-Share Index (ASI) increased by 241.72 points to 106,042.57 points from 105,800.85 points and the market capitalisation grew by N151 billion to N66.648 trillion from N66.497 trillion.