Lagos: The equities market opened the week on a positive note on Monday, as investors gained N155 billion. Market capitalisation rose from N89.960 trillion on Friday to N90.115 trillion, representing a 0.17 percent growth. Also, the All-Share Index gained 244.53 points to close at 142,377.56, against 142,133.03 recorded on Friday.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the positive performance was driven by sustained interest in stocks like Skye Shelter Fund, Thomas Wyatt Nigeria, Livingtrust Mortgage Bank, Eterna, and 21 other stocks. The market breadth closed negative, in spite of the overall gain, as 36 stocks declined against 25 advancers. AXA Mansard Insurance led the decliners' table by 10 percent, ending the session at N14.40. University Press followed by 9.85 percent, settling at N5.40, while Learn Africa lost by 9.72 percent, closing at N6.50 per share. Julius Berger dipped by 8.70 percent, finishing at N136.50, and Cornerstone Insurance shed 7.42 percent, closing at N5.86 per share.
Conversely, Skye Shelter Fund and Thomas Wyatt Nigeria led the advancers' table by 10 percent each, finishing at N346.55 and N3.63 per share respectively. Livingtrust Mortgage Bank grew by 9.90 percent, settling at N5.66. Eterna gained by 9.86 percent, ending the session at N30.65, and Caverton Offshore Support Group increased by 9.28 percent, closing at N6.83 per share.
An assessment of the market activity revealed an improvement in the transactions and a decline in the market volume and value. No fewer than 383.9 million shares worth N11.62 billion were traded across 28,114 transactions. This is compared to the previous session's 518.7 million shares valued at N18 billion that was exchanged across 22,350 deals.
Meanwhile, transactions in the shares of FirstHoldCo topped the activity chart in volume and value with 47.49 million shares valued at N1.47 billion. Ellah Lakes followed with 24.5 million shares worth N290.9 million, while Veritas Kapital traded 21.9 million shares valued at N44.7 million. Zenith Bank transacted 18.7 million shares worth N1.3 billion and CHAMS sold 16.2 million shares valued at N56.6 million.