Following price gains recorded by major highly capitalised stocks, especially Dangote Cement and Unilever, transactions on the trading floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange closed in an upbeat yesterday, causing market capitalisation to inch up by N59billion.

Specifically, at the close of transactions yesterday, the All-share index rose by 116.53 points or 0.3 per cent from 44,343.65 recorded on Wednesday to 44,460.18, while market capitalisation increased by N59billion or 0.4 per cent from N15.895trillion to N15.954trillion.

International Breweries topped the losers’ chart with 2.90 kobo to close at N57.95 per share, while UACN followed with 0.7 kobo to close at N17.00 per share. WAPCO depreciated by 0.45 kobo to close at N54.50 per share.

Dangote Sugar Refinery shed 0.40 kobo to close at N20.60 per share. FBN Holdings lost 0.35 kobo to close at N13.60 per share. Eterna Oil lost 0.27 kobo to close at N5.68 per share.

Access Bank dropped 0.25 kobo to close at N12.70 per share. African Prudential lost 0.24 kobo to close at N4.66 per share. Custodian and Allied Insurance appreciated by 0.22 kobo to close at N4.28 per share. Fidson lost 0.12 kobo to close at N4.71 per share.

May and Baker shed 0.10 kobo to close at N2.90 per share. Fidelity Bank fell by 0.08 kobo to close at N3.58 per share. Wema Bank and First City Monument Bank dropped 0.07 kobo each to close at N1.40 and N2.99 per share respectively.On the other hand, Dangote Cement topped the gainers’ chart with 5.00 kobo to close at N275.00 per share, while Unilever followed with 2.25 kobo to close at N46.75 per share.

Cement Company of Northern Nigeria gained 0.85 kobo to close at N18.60 per share. Dangote Flourmills added 0.30 kobo to close at N16.80 per share. Okomu Oil appreciated by 0.30 kobo to close at N74.40 per share. Union Bank added 0.20 kobo to close at N8.10 per share.UPL appreciated by 0.11 kobo to close at N2.38 per share. Cutix, Caverton and Seplat added 0.10 kobo each to close at N2.38, N2.46 and N685.10 per share respectively.

TransNational Corporation was investors’ toast in volume terms with 105 million shares worth N244million while Skye Bank followed with 95 million units valued at N139million.

Diamond Bank traded 77 million shares worth N238million. Wapic accounted for 72 million shares worth N54million. First City Monument Bank exchanged 64 million shares valued at N192million. In all, investors exchanged 630 million shares worth N3.4billion in 7,079 deals.