By Providence Obuh

Activities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) resumed Monday, on a bearish note, as the value of listed equities’ declined by 21.23 billion, however, the market capitalisation closed at N8.079 trillion for the E’idel Kabir holiday.

Equities value represented by the market capitalisation dipped by 0.26 per cent to close at N8.079 trillion from N8.100 trillion at which it opened.

Another key performance indices the All share index dropped by 0.26 per cent or 66.49 bases points to close at 25,301.34 points from 25,367.83 points.

Cadbury Nigeria Plc recorded the most share price loss dropping by N0.25 to close at N27.80 per share, Cement Company of Northern Nigeria Plc followed with a loss of N0.50 to close at N13.65 per share, Nigeria Aviation Handling Company Plc dipped by N0.30 to close at N9.51 per share.

Other share price losers include: National Salt Company of Nigeria Plc N0.30, Ashaka Cement Plc N0.28, Union Bank Nigeria Plc N0.27, RT Briscoe Plc N0.19, Ecobank Nigeria Plc N0.18, Oceanic Bank Plc N0.17, Skye Bank Plc N0.16, among others.

On the contrary, Flour Mills Nigeria Plc led on the gainers table with a gain of N0.25 to close at N68.50 per share, Oando Plc followed with a gain of N0.25 to close at N67.00 per share and Vitafoam Nigeria Plc garnered N0.19 to close at N6.19 per share.

Other share price gainers include: Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc N0.19, Custodian and Allied Insurance Plc, Bank PHB Plc N0.10, Prestige Assurance Company Plc N0.10, Berger Paints Plc N0.10, Wema Bank Plc N0.08, Unity Bank Plc N0.07, among others.

NSE 30 used in measuring  the performance of blue chips in the market dropped by 0.33 per cent, NSE Banking dropped by 0.34 per cent, NSE Food and  Beverages declined by 0.22 per cent, NSE Insurance appreciated by 0.73 per cent and NSE Oil and  Gas gained by 0.15 per cent.

Equity trading plunge 53.16 per cent, a turnover of 254.33 million shares valued at N1.54 billion was recorded in 6,185 deals, compared to Friday’s turnover of 542.98 million shares valued at N4.76 million in 6,134 deals.

The Banking sub-sector recorded the highest activity on the sectorial analysis accounting for 70.24 per cent of the market turnover with 178.65 million shares valued at N1.05 billion in 3,674 deals.  Oceanic Bank International Plc was the most active in the sub-sector trading 23.16 million shares valued at N75.92 million in 305 deals, First Bank of Nigeria Plc followed with the exchange of 18.68 million shares valued at N248.64 million in 684 deals and Fidelity Bank Plc recorded 16.73 million shares valued at N45.04 million in 138 deals.

The Insurance Sub-sector followed on the sectorial analysis accounting for 8.07 per cent of the market turnover with 20.52 million shares valued at N17.05 million in 372 deals.  Lasaco Assurance Plc recorded the most patronage in the sub-sector trading 4.62 million shares valued at N2.31 million in 26 deals.