The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited gained 1.02 per cent on Thursday as interest in local equity market continues due to renewed investor confidence.
During the trading session, the benchmark indices; the All-Share Index (ASI), and the market capitalisation, reached new milestones.
Data revealed that the ASI increased its value by 1,316.78 points to 130,283.86 points from 128,967.08 points and the market capitalisation went up by N833 billion to N82.418 trillio from N81.585 trillion.
Business Post reports that investor sentiment was weak yesterday after the bourse closed with 30 appreciating stocks and 46 depreciating stocks, implying a negative market breadth index triggered by profit-taking.
However, buying interest two bellwethers, BUA Cement and Dangote Cement, saved Customs Street from crumbling at the close of transactions.
BUA Cement gained 10.00 per cent to trade at N112.20, Dangote Cement appreciated by 9.99 per cent to N473.30, Chams rose by 9.96 per cent to N3.09, First HoldCo grew by 9.94 per cent to N35.40, and ABC Transport flew by 9.85 per cent to N5.69.
On the flip side, May and Baler lost 10.00 per cent to close at N15.30, RT Briscoe declined by 10.00 per cent to N3.42, MeCure tumbled by 10.00 per cent to N11.70, John Holt slipped by 10.00 per cent to N9.00, and Berger Paints depleted by 10.00 per cent to N33.75.
A total of 1.2 billion shares worth N42.8 billion exchanged hands in 37,418 deals during the session compared with the 11.7 billion equities valued at N363.4 billion in 36,635 deals traded a day earlier, indicating an increase in the number of deals by 2.14 per cent, and a fall in the trading volume and value by 89.74 per cent and 88.22 per cent, respectively.
The most active equity for the day was Access Holdings with 168.1 million units worth N4.6 billion, First HoldCo traded 86.4 million units valued at N3.1 billion, Zenith Bank transacted 83.4 million units for N6.3 billion, Nigerian Breweries sold 68.6 million units valued at N5.1 billion, and AIICO Insurance exchanged 65.3 million units worth N139.3 million.