The market capitalisation of listed equities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday slumped by 0.93 per cent to stand at N4.175 trillion from N4.214 trillion.

The market return dipped by 0.94 per cent as the NSE all-share index to 33,279.17 points from 33,594.28 points it closed previous day

The market also recorded a cumulative turnover of 1.383 billion ordinary shares traded in 6,016 deals valued at N4.202 billion higher than the previous day's trading statistics of 145.43 million shares worth N2.741 billion transacted in 7,078 deals.

Meanwhile, the top three sub-sectors (by turnover and volume) on the Exchange were insurance, banking and building materials in that order with each accounting for 94 per cent, 4.65 per cent and 0.56 per cent of the total volume of transactions executed on the floor respectively.

However, the NSE explained that the exceptional performance in insurance sub-sector was accounted for by unusual volume of 1,291,563,700 ordinary shares of Great Nigeria Insurance Plc (0.93 per cent of total market turnover).

The market recorded 38 price decliners against 33 advances contrary to 39 price advances and 30 decliners recorded the previous day.

Meanwhile, Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc emerged topped the gainers' chart with a capital appreciation of N4.00 to close at N184.00 per share, and was seconded by Okomu Oil Palm Plc gaining N1.00 to close at N35.00 per share.

Other top price gainers included Cement Company of Northern Nigeria Plc (97 kobo), Oceanic Bank International Plc (70 kobo), Benue Cement Company Plc (64 kobo), Conoil Plc (53 kobo), Presco Plc (50 kobo), GTBank Plc (45 kobo), RT Briscoe (Nigeria) Plc (41 kobo), Union Dicon Salt Plc (33 kobo), Incar Nigeria Plc (31 kobo), UAC of Nigeria Plc (30 kobo), Dunlop Nigeria Plc (18 kobo), Nampak Nigeria Plc (16 kobo), BOC Gases Plc (14 kobo), Prestige Assurance Plc (13 kobo), Niger Insurance Plc (11 kobo), Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc and UAC Property Development Company Plc (10 kobo apiece).

On the losers' chart, Ecobank Transnational Incorporation (ETI) shed N12.18 closing at N231.58 to emerge the leader.

Other top price losers included Guinness Nigeria Plc (N5.99), Nestle Nigeria Plc (N2.75), Chevron Oil Nigeria Plc (N2.65), Julius Berger (Nigeria) Plc (N2.60), 7Up Bottling Company Plc (N2.30), Cadbury Nigeria Plc, West African Portland Cement Company Plc and Flour Mills Nigeria Plc, Ashaka Cement Plc (N1.50), Northern Nigeria Flour Mills Plc (N1.47), Oando Plc (N1.11) and PZ Industries Plc (85 kobo).

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By Uche Obike
Lagos

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