The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited appreciated by 0.15 per cent on Tuesday, though weak investor sentiment remained as market participants watch happenings in the global economy.
During the trading session, the banking index went up by 1.89 per cent due to buying interest and the energy industry improved by 0.04 per cent.
However, the insurance sector went down by 4.07 per cent as a result of sustained selling pressure, as the consumer goods shrank by 0.16 per cent, and the industrial goods space tumbled by 0.11 per cent, with the commodity sector closing flat.
At the close of transactions, the All-Share Index (ASI) was up by 159.86 points to 104,376.73 points from 104,216.87 points and the market capitalisation grew by N100 billion to N65.589 trillion from N65.489 trillion.
Secure Electronic Technology ended as the best-performing equity after it gained 8.89 per cent to 49 Kobo, Abbey Mortgage Bank grew by 8.35 per cent to N5.58, Sterling Holdings rose by 6.85 per cent to N5.15, VFD Group jumped by 5.26 per cent to N66.00, and Mutual Benefits improved by 4.55 per cent to 92 Kobo.
On the flip side, UH REIT finished the session as the worst-performing equity after it shed 9.95 per cent to trade at N46.15, NAHCO lost 9.94 per cent to settle at N62.95, NEM Insurance depreciated by 9.92 per cent to quote at N11.80, Lasaco Assurance dropped 9.86 per cent to sell for N1.92, and Royal Exchange slipped by 9.78 per cent to 83 Kobo.
Business Post reports that the bourse ended the day with 16 price gainers and 42 price losers, implying a negative market breadth index and weak investor sentiment.
Yesterday, Customs Street recorded the trading of 460.6 million shares worth N10.1 billion in 14,528 deals compared with the 444.1 million shares valued at N11.2 billion on Monday, representing a growth in the volume of transactions by 3.72 per cent, and a decline in the value of trades and the number of deals by 9.82 per cent and 7.41 per cent, respectively.
The busiest stock on Tuesday was Access Holdings, which exchanged 56.5 million units valued at N1.2 billion, GTCO traded 51.6 million units worth N3.4 billion, Fidelity Bank transacted 24.1 million units for N431.6 million, FCMB sold 23.4 million units worth N208.1 million, and United Capital traded 23.3 million units valued at N319.9 million.