Equity transactions closed in an upbeat last week, as the All-Share Index and market capitalisation of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), appreciated by 0.7 per cent to close the week at 38,928.02 points and N14.102 trillion respectively. 

Similarly, all other indices finished higher but for NSE CG, NSE Consumer Goods and NSE Industrial Goods that depreciated by 0.08 per cent, 0.85 per cent and 0.12 per cent respectively, while the NSE ASeM Index closed flat.

However, a turnover of 1.738 billion shares worth N18.462 billion were recorded in 14,790 deals on the floor of the exchange last week, in contrast to a total of 1.749 billion units valued at N31.183 billion that changed hands in 24,604 deals during the preceding week.

The drop in turnover may however, be attributed to the one-day holiday declared by the Federal Government on Friday June 15 to commemorate the Eid-al-Fitr celebrations

Also, 40 equities appreciated in price during the week, lower than 49 in the previous week, with 28 equities depreciating in price, lower than 29 equities of the previous week, while 101 equities remained unchanged higher than 91 equities recorded in the preceding week.

Japaul Oil topped the gainers’ chart with 22.58 per cent to close at N0.38 per share, while Equity Assurance followed with 20 per cent to close at N0.24 per share.

Union Bank added 10.71 per cent to close at N6.20 per share and Okomuoil gained 10.24 per cent to close at N90.40 per share, while Learn Africa garnered 9.72 per cent to close at N1.58 per share.

On the other hand, Mutual Benefit Assurance led others on the losers’ chart with 13.89 per cent to close at N0.31 per share, while AG Leventis followed with 7.55 per cent to close at N0.49 per share.

Nigerian Breweries lost 5.98 per cent to close at N110 per share, as Berger Paints shed five per cent to close at N8.55 per share, while BOC Gases dropped 4.97 per cent to close at N4.21 per share.

Last week, the financial services industry (measured by volume), led the activity chart with 1.170 billion shares valued at N9.695 billion traded in 7,809 deals; thus contributing 67.35 per cent and 52.51 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

The services industry followed with 293.492 million shares worth N733.407 million in 531 deals and the consumer goods ranked third with a turnover of 154.093 million shares worth N4.997 billion in 3,002 deals.

Trading in the top three equities– United Capital Plc, Ikeja Hotel Plc and United Bank For Africa Plc (measured by volume), accounted for 811.747 million shares worth N3.887 billion in 986 deals, contributing 46.71 per cent to the total equity turnover volume.

Analysts in Vetiva Capital Limited said: “Trading was mixed this week as profit taking at week close followed relatively strong gains earlier in the week.

We foresee bargain hunting at week open as investors swoop on slightly beaten down stocks.”

Also traded during the week were 62,392 units of Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) valued at N1.004 million and executed in 13 deals, compared with 202,916 units valued at N1.168 million that was transacted last week in 19 deals.

A total of 9,850 units of Federal Government valued at N9.999 million were traded this week in 10 deals, compared with a total of 10,561 units valued at N10.381 million transacted last week in 20 deals.