Major blue chips on Wednesday on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) recorded marginal gains, lifting the market indices by 0.18 per cent.
For the second consecutive day, Total Plc led the gainers’ chart, growing by N3 to close at N251 per share.
Nestle came second with a gain of N1.01, to close at N823.01 and Ecobank Transnational Incorporated improved by 92k, to close at N11.48 per share.
Guaranty Trust Bank grew by 41k to close at N25, while Lafarge Africa gained 30k to close at N55.30 per share.
Consequently, the All-Share Index rose by 48.23 points or 0.18 per cent, to close at 27,437.25, in contrast with the 27,389.02 posted on Tuesday.
Also, the market capitalisation which opened at N9.406 trillion appreciated by N17 billion or 0.18 per cent, to close at N9.423 trillion.
Market analysts attributed the development to improved half-year results and interim dividends declared by some quoted companies.
They said that some investors were taking advantage of low prices of stocks to increase their stake in the market.
Conversely, International Breweries recorded the highest price loss to lead the losers’ table, dropping by N1 to close at N19 per share.
CCNN trailed with a loss of 59k to close at N6.01 and Zenith Bank shed 25k, to close at N15 per share.
UACN lost 20k to close at N19, while Ikeja Hotels dropped by 9k to close at N1.71 per share.
The banking sector remained the most active with Access Bank emerging the toast of investors, accounting for 5.99 million shares worth N363.27 million.
United Bank for Africa followed with an exchange of 57.06 million shares valued at N248.34 million and GT Bank traded 32.28 million shares worth N825.31 million.
Diamond Bank sold 32.03 million shares valued at N35.29 million, while FBN Holdings transacted 26.84 million shares worth N83.78 million.
