The two key performance indicators of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited moved in opposite directions on Friday as the benchmark index lost 0.14 per cent and the value of the bourse went up by 0.19 per cent.
The total of Customs Street increased during the last trading day of the week by N130 billion to N68.752 trillion from the N68.622 trillion it ended on Thursday due to the listing of additional 6.83 billion ordinary shares of UBA Plc from its N239.4 billion rights issue sold at N35.00 per unit.
However, for the trading session, the All-Share Index (ASI) was down by 155.31 points to 109,028.62 points from the 109,183.93 points recorded a day earlier.
Profit-taking in the insurance and industrial goods sectors crumbled the market yesterday as their respective index closed lower by 0.66 per cent and 0.04 per cent.
But, the consumer goods space grew by 1.54 per cent, the energy counter gained 0.63 per cent, the banking index went up by 0.38 per cent, and the commodity industry increased by 0.30 per cent.
Investor sentiment was strong on Friday, with 27 appreciating stocks and 20 depreciating stocks, representing a positive market breadth index.
Northern Nigeria Flour Mills declined by 9.97 per cent to N118.70, Transcorp Hotels depreciated by 9.95 per cent to N138.50, Learn Africa weakened by 9.89 per cent to N4.01, Legend Internet tumbled by 9.52 per cent to N7.60, and Sovereign Trust Insurance lost 8.57 per cent to close at 96 Kobo.
On the flip side, Red Star Express gained 10.00 per cent to quote at N6.71, University Press jumped by 9.82 per cent to N4.36, ABC Transport climbed higher by 9.69 per cent to N2.49, McNichols improved by 9.05 per cent to N2.29, and Lasaco Assurance leapt by 8.47 per cent to N2.69.
The level of activity was lower yesterday as the trading volume, value, and number of deals decreased by 61.04 per cent, 4.23 per cent and 38.57 per cent apiece.
The market participants traded 637.5 million shares worth N18.1 billion in 15,927 deals compared with the 1.6 billion shares valued at N18.9 billion in 25,927 deals on Thursday.
Tantalizers exchanged 145.1 million equities for N384.5 million, Fidelity Bank traded 85.6 million stocks valued at N1.6 billion, Nigerian Breweries transacted 47.5 million shares worth N2.6 billion, UBA sold 45.2 million equities valued at N1.5 billion, and GTCO traded 29.4 million stocks worth N2.1 billion.