By Providence Obuh
The declining trend recorded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) continued Tuesday, as the value of listed equities dipped by N62.39 billion.

In particular, the indices used for measuring the value of listed equities — the market capitalisation and the All share index both dipped by 1.0 per cent each. The capitalisation closed at N6.199 trillion from N6.262 trillion at which it opened while the index closed at 25,350.98 points from 25,606.09 points.

Nigerian Breweries Plc recorded the most share price loss, dropping by N1.50 to close at N72.50 per share, Benue Cement Company Plc followed with a loss of N1.00 to close at N64.00 per share and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc dipped by N0.80 to close at N16.00 per share.

Other share price losers include: Zenith Bank Plc N0.53, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc N0.50, Dangote Flour Mills Plc N0.30, Skye Bank Plc N0.29, Union Bank Nigeria Plc N0.26, Longman Nigeria Plc N0.20, A.G  Leventis Nigeria Plc N0.17, among others.

On the contrary, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc led on the gainers table with a gain of N2.61 to close at N54.89 per share, Northern Nigeria Flour Mills Plc followed with a gain of N1.76 to close at N37.01 per share and Ashaka Cement Plc garnered N0.60 to close at N20.00 per share.

Other share price losers include: UAC Nigeria Plc N0.60, PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc N0.44, Access Bank Plc N0.42, Okomu Oil Palm Plc N0.36, National Salt Company Nigeria Plc N0.26, RT Briscoe Plc N0.12, University Press Plc N0.11, among others.

Equity trading plunged by 15.33 per cent, as a turnover of 220.04 million shares valued at N2.05 billion was recorded in 6,312 deals in contrast to the previous day’s turnover of 259.88 million shares valued at N2.66 million in 8,895 deals.

Banking stocks were the most sought after, as transactions in the sub-sector accounted for 63.23 per cent of the market turnover, with 139.12 million shares valued at N1.22 billion in 3,444 deals. Zenith Bank Plc enjoyed the most patronage in the sub-sector, trading 33.70 million shares valued at N463.92 million in 372 deals, United Bank for Africa Plc followed with the exchange of 14.95 million shares valued at N155.44 million in 323 deals and First Bank of Nigeria Plc recorded 12.93 million shares valued at N170.97 million in 761 deals.

Information and Communication Technology followed on the sectorial analysis accounting for 6.62 per cent of the market turnover with 14.55 million shares valued at N8.93 million in 66 deals. Chams Plc was the most active in the sub-sector trading 14.47 million shares valued at N8.77 million in 54 deals