NSE All-Share Index hits 38,000 marks

The All-Share Index of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), on Tuesday, crossed 38,000 mark amidst gains posted by some highly capitalised stocks in spite of the preparation for Yuletide.
The index inched 519.84 points or 1.37 per cent to close at 38, 494.42 compared with 37, 974.58 achieved on Monday.
Also, the market capitalisation which opened at N13.225 trillion improved by N181 billion or 1.37 per cent to close at N13.406 trillion.
Nigerian Breweries recorded the highest price gain to lead the gainers’ table with N4.50 to close at N138 per share.
Dangote Cement followed with a gain of N4.20 to close at N250, while Unilever rose by N1.30 to close at N42.95 per share.
PZ added N1.07 to close at N22.90, while Cadbury gained N1.05 to close at N15.30 per share.
On the other hand, Forte Oil topped the losers’ table with a loss of N1.76 to close at N43.23 per share.
Stanbic IBTC trailed with a loss of 55k to close at N42, while Flour Mills dipped 40k to close at N33.10 per share.
International Breweries lost 24k to close at N59.76, while National Salt dropped 16k to close at N15.74 per share.
Custodian and Allied Insurance was the toast of investors, accounting for 90.14 million shares worth N338.04 million.
Guaranty Trust Bank followed with an exchange of 57.05 million shares valued at N2.45 billion, while Fidelity Bank traded 53 million shares worth N114.09 million.
Diamond Bank sold 46.93 million shares valued at N65.46 million, while Zenith Bank traded 42.82 million shares worth N1.08 billion.
The volume of shares traded increased marginally by 4.43 per cent as investors staked N7.52 billion on 522.35 million shares transacted in 5,150 deals.
This was in contrast with 500.19 million shares valued at N6.36 billion exchanged in 4,966 deals on Monday.