It was a mixed grill as bears took over trading at the Nigerian Stock Exchange on Friday, depressing the All Share Index and market capitalisation.
The major positive was in the volume of shares traded. It grew by 34.95 per cent, as investors staked N1.21 billion on 151.85 million shares transacted in 2,902 deals.
This was in contrast with the volume of 112.52 million shares valued at N2.36 billion traded in 2,684 deals on Thursday.
The All-Share Index shed 62.76 points or 0.23 per cent to close lower at 26,981.60 compared with 27,044.36 recorded on Thursday.
Also, the market capitalisation lost N1 billion to close at N9.288 trillion against N9.289 trillion posted on Thursday.
Sterling Bank emerged the most traded stock, accounting for 33.67 million shares worth N27.62 million.
It was trailed by Zenith Bank with an exchange of 24.21 million shares valued at N359.41 million. FBN Holdings traded 20.23 million shares worth N61.70 million.
UBA sold 18.74 million shares valued at N80.49 million and Access Bank posted a turnover of 9.58 million shares worth N53.71 million.
Major blue chips posted price losses with Seplat leading the losers’ table having lost N19 to close at N361 per share.
Total came second with a loss of N16.62 to close at N315.88, while Guaranty Trust Bank shed 93k to close at N22.57 per share.
Nigerian Breweries was down by 86k to close at N142 and Zenith Bank declined by 30k to close at N14.80 per share.
On the other hand, Nestle led the gainers’ table with a gain of N19.96 to close at N814.94 per share.
Larfarge Africa garnered N5.08 to close at N54.88 and Flour Mill increased by 70k to close at N19.70 per share.
Air Service rose by 20k to close at N2.54, while AfriPrudential Registrar advanced by 12k to close at N2.60 per share.
