Lagos: On Wednesday, the Nigerian stock market traded 815.48 million shares worth N33.3 billion in 52,641 deals.
This marked a decrease from Tuesday’s session, when 887.68 million shares worth N385.6 billion changed hands in 53,436 transactions.
Meanwhile, transactions on the activity chart were led by Wema Bank, with 77.75 million shares valued at N2.03 billion.
This was followed by Guaranty Trust Holding Company, with 73.7 million shares valued at N8.97 billion, and Access Corporation, with 62.9 million shares valued at N1.64 billion.
First Holding Company transacted 59.4 million shares valued at N2.9 billion, and Zenith Bank sold 49.7 million shares worth N5.2 billion.
The stock market continued its positive run, closing mixed as investor portfolios gained N600 billion. Continued buying interest pushed key indices higher.
The positive performance was driven by increased investor interest in stocks such as UPDCredit, International Energy Insurance, RT Briscoe, Mutual Benefits Assurance, Zenith Bank, and 17 other equities.
Market capitalisation climbed from N129.209 trillion to N129.809 trillion by Wednesday’s close, adding N600 billion.
Consequently, the All-Share Index surged from 201,287.78 to 201,703.55, gaining 0.21 per cent or 415.77 points.
This led the Year-to-Date (YTD) return to climb to 29.62 per cent.
Despite the uptrend, the market breadth closed negatively, with 41 losers and 22 gainers.
Nestlé Nigeria and Omatek led the losers’ chart by 10 per cent each, settling at N3,055.50 and N1.98 per share, respectively.
Also, FTN Cocoa Processors shed by 9.97 per cent, closing at N5.33, CHAMS dipped by 9.79 per cent, finishing at N3.96, while May and Baker dropped by 9.74 per cent, ending the session at N34.30 per share.
On the other hand, UPDCredit led the gainers’ chart by 10 per cent, finishing at N7.70; International Energy Insurance followed with 9.91 per cent, settling at N3.55; and RT Briscoe gained 8.81 per cent, closing at N10.50 per share.
Similarly, Mutual Benefits Assurance rose by 7.58 per cent, ending the session at N4.40, while Zenith Bank soared by 7.52 per cent, closing at N103 per share.
