Investors stake N3.75bn on 330.67m shares, amid persistent market depression

Investors on Thursday at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) staked N3.75 billion on 330.67 million shares traded in 5,238 deals compared with 473.57 million shares worth N3.45 billion transacted in 5,110 deals on Wednesday.
A breakdown of the activity chart showed that Access Bank emerged the most active in volume terms with 77.85 million shares worth N467.28 million.
United Bank for Africa followed with 59.46 million shares valued N308.72 million, while GT Bank traded 19.38 million shares worth N558.72 million.
Sterling Bank came fourth with an exchange of 16.49 million shares valued N35.38 million, while Zenith Bank sold 15.99 million shares worth N341.19 million.
The market indices for the fourth consecutive day dropped further by 0.08 per cent due to price loses by some highly capitalised stocks.
The All-Share Index lost 26.55 points or 0.08 per cent to close at 34,400.57 points against 34,427.12 points recorded on Wednesday.
The market capitalisation lost N9 billion or 0.08 per cent to close at N11.682 trillion compared with N11.691 trillion posted on Wednesday.
Nestle led the losers’ chart, shedding N35.75 to close at N900 per share.
Guinness trailed with a loss of N8.44 to close at N160.56, while Dangote Cement declined by N1.55 to close at N178 per share.
Forte Oil and Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNN) lost 85k and 50k respectively to close at N170.15 and N10.50 per share each.
Conversely, Seplat topped the gainers’ table, appreciating by N8 to close at N387 per share.
Ecobank Transnational increased by N2.27 to close at N24.55, while CAP appreciated by N1.87 to close at N39.31 per share.
Lafarge Wapco advanced by N1.50 to close at N96, while Nigerian Breweries went up by N1 to close at N154 per share.