By Providence Obuh
The declining trend on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) continued, Wednesday, as the value of listed equities dropped further by N29.27 billion.

Equities value represented by the market capitalisation plunge by 0.47 per cent to close at N6.148 trillion from N6.177 trillion at which it opened.

Another performance indices, the All share index shed 0.47 per cent, dropping by 120.35 bases point to close at 25,278.00 point from 25,398.35 point at which it opened.

Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc led on the losers’ table, dropping by N2.25 to close at N45.00 per share, followed by Lafarge Cement WAPCO Plc with a loss of N2.15 to close at N40.85 per share and Benue Cement Company Plc dipped by N2.00 to close at N64.00 per share.

Other share price losers include: Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc N0.90, UAC-Property Development Plc N0.85, Ashaka Cement Plc N0.57, Unilever Nigeria Plc N0.50, National Salt Company of Nigeria Plc N0.42, University Press Plc N0.31, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc N0.28, among others.

On the other hand, United Bank for Africa Plc recorded the most share price gain, rising by N0.52 to close at N11.02 per share, followed by Julius Berger Nigeria Plc with a gain of N0.45 to close at N55.00 per share and May and Baker Nigeria Plc garnered N0.34 to close at N7.29 per share.

Other share price gainers include: Union Bank Nigeria Plc N0.24, Capital Oil Plc N0.20, First Bank of Nigeria Plc N0.15, Starcomms Nigeria Plc N0.11, Access Bank Plc N0.11, AfriBank Plc N0.10, EcoBank Plc N0.08, among others.
Equities value depreciated by 1.63 per cent, as a turnover of 246.64 million shares valued at N2.18 billion was recorded in 5,531 deals, in contrast to the previous day’s turnover of 250.73 million shares valued at N2.74 billion in 16,593 deals.

The Banking sub-sector recorded the most patronage on the sectorial analysis, accounting for 49.55 per cent of the market turnover with 122.22 million shares valued at N908.23 million in 2,937 deals.  Fidelity Bank Plc emerged as the most active in the sub-sector trading 24.38 million shares valued at N64.36 million in 116 deals, Skye Bank Plc followed with the exchange of 16.44 million shares valued at N134.66 million in 189 deals and First Bank of Nigeria Plc recorded 12.85 million shares valued at N170.29 million in 676 deals.

The soon-to-be scrapped Second-Tier Securities market followed on the sectorial analysis, accounting for 20.28 per cent of the market turnover, with 50.02 million shares valued at N25.01 million in three deals. Capital Oil Plc solely accounted for transactions in the sub-sector.

The Insurance sub-sector trailed, accounting for 8.70 per cent of the market turnover with 21.47 million shares valued at N23.16 million in 243 deals.