By Providence Obuh
Investors woes heightened last week, as the value of their investment on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) declined by N122.65 billion.

This was represented by a decline in the indices used for measuring performance of listed equities — the market capitalisation and the All-share index both dipped by 1.99 per cent and 2.44 per cent respectively.

The capitalisation dropped by N122.65 billion to close at N6.018 trillion from N6.141 trillion at which it opened the week, while the index shed 614.4 basis points to close at 24,609.30 points from 25,223.70 points at which it opened.

The decline in the market indicators was as a result of losses on the prices of majority of the listed equities, led by Conoil Plc, with a loss of N2.00 to close at N52.00 per share, followed by Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc with a loss of N1.99 to close at N18.86 per share and Ashaka Cement Plc dipped by N1.80 to close at N17.99 per share.

Other share price losers include: Dangote Flour Mills Plc N1.75, Nigerian Breweries Plc N1.31,  Honeywell Flour Mills Plc N1.00,  Oando Plc N0.99, Cement Company of Northern Nigeria Plc N0.96, Zenith Bank Plc N0.91, Cadbury Nigeria Plc N0.84, among others.

On the contrary, Guinness Nigeria Plc recorded the most share price gain in the week under review, rising by N7.49 to close at N166.00 per share, followed by Nigerian Bottling Company Plc with a gain of N1.45 to close at N31.45 per share and University Press Plc garnered N0.75 to close at N7.80 per share.

Other share price gainers’ include: Eterna Oil and Gas Plc N0.47, Custodian and Allied Insurance Plc  N0.27,  International Breweries Plc N0.16, Niger Insurance Plc N0.16, Access Bank Plc N0.15, Lafarge Cement WAPCO Nigeria Plc N0.11, Berger Paints Nigeria Plc N0.11, among others.

Equities trading soared by 44.14 per cent as a turnover of 1.6 billion shares valued at N13.7 billion was recorded in 29,354 deals, in contrast to the previous week’s turnover of 1.11 billion shares valued at N9.84 billion in 29,892 deals.

The Banking sub-sector dominated the other sub-sectors on the sectorial analysis, accounting for 56.88 per cent of the market turnover with 899.92 million shares valued at N7.8 billion in 15,638 deals. Union Bank of Nigeria Plc was the most active in the sub-sector, trading 166.40 million shares valued at N819.16 million in 719 deals, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc followed with the exchange of 145.83 million shares valued at N2.44 billion in 2,704 deals and First Bank of Nigeria Plc recorded 124.05 million shares valued at N1.58 billion in 3,809 deals.

The Insurance sub-sector trailed on the sectorial analysis accounting, for 10.28 per cent of the market turnover with 162.63 million shares valued at N148.84 million in 1,518 deals. International Energy Insurance Plc recorded the most patronage in the sub-sector trading 31.19 million shares valued at N15.66 million in 39 deals.