By Providence Obuh & Chinelo Dunu
The upward trend of equities’ value on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) continued, Wednesday, as the market capitalisation and All-share index, representing equities’ value appreciated by N65.24 billion.

In particular, the capitalisation appreciated by 0.84 per cent to close at N7.830 trillion from N7.765 trillion at which it opened, while the index garnered 0.84 per cent or 204.21 bases points to close at 24,511.04 points from 24,306.83 points.

Vono Product Plc led on the gainers table with a gain of N0.10 to close at N2.10 per share, Nigerian Bottling Companies Plc followed with a gain of N1.57 to close at N33.10 per share and Large Cement WAPCO Plc garnered N1.94 to close at N40.94 per share.

Other share price gainers include: Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc N0.74, Ikeja Hotel Plc N0.07, IHS Plc N0.09, Wema Bank Plc N0.05, Law Union and Rocks Insurance Plc N0.02, Tantalizer Nigeria Plc N0.02, Zenith Bank Plc N0.57, among others.

On the other hand, Bank PHB Plc led on the losers table dropping by N0.09 to close at N1.71 per share, MRS Oil Nigeria Plc followed with a loss of N3.68 to close at N70.06 per share and Northern Nigeria Flour Mills Plc dipped by N2.09 to close at N39.88 per share.

Other share price losers include: DN Meyer Plc N0.19, NSL TN0.10, Unity Bank Plc N0.05, African Petroleum Plc N099, Finbank Plc N0.03, Vitafoam Nigeria Plc N0.25, UTC Nigeria Plc N0.03, among others.

Equity trading plunge 19.18 per cent, as a turnover of 257.45 million shares valued at N2.38 billion was recorded in 4,942 deals, in contrast to the previous day’s turnover of 318.57 million shares valued at N2.14 billion in 5,869 deals.

The Banking sub-sector was the most sought after in the sub-sector accounting 76.02 per cent of the market turnover with 195.71 million shares valued at N1.57 billion in 3,252 deals.  Access Bank Plc recorded the highest patronage in the sub-sector trading 28.16 million shares valued at N259.72 million in 228 deals, First Bank of Nigeria Plc followed with the exchange of 27.22 million shares valued at N350.92 million in 662 deals and Guaranty Trust Assurance Plc recorded 22.65 million shares valued at N391.84 million in 573 deals.

The Insurance sub-sector followed on the sectorial analysis accounting for 6.30 per cent of the market turnover with 16.22 million shares valued at N14.15 million in 175 deals.  Oasis Insurance Plc led the sub-sector trading 3.10 million shares valued at N1.55 million in five deals, AIICO Insurance Plc followed with the exchange of 2.67 million shares valued at N2.15 million in 61 deals and Continental Reinsurance Plc recorded 2.23 million shares valued at N2.34 million in eight deals.