By PROVIDENCE OBUH
The upward trend on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) continued Thursday, as the value of listed equities appreciated by N86.31 billion.

Specifically, equities value represented by the market capitalisation appreciated by 0.99 per cent to close at N8.791 trillion from N8.704 trillion at which it opened.  Another key performance indices, the All share index soared by 0.99 per cent or 270.15 bases points to close at 27,515.25 points from 27,245.10 points at which it opened.

Amidst the 66 stocks traded today, Nigerian Bags Manufacturing Company Plc led 50 other stocks with the highest percentage gain on the gainers table, with N0.14 to close at N2.94 pe share, First Aluminium Nigerian Plc followed with a gain of N0.03 to close at n0.63 per share and Royal Exchange Plc rose by N0.03 to close at N0.03 per share.

Other share price gainers include: Unity Bank Plc N0.08,Unilever Nigeria Plc N1.38, Longman Nigeria Plc N0.36, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc N0.50, Union Bank Nigeria Plc N0.25, Oceanic Bank International Nigeria Plc N0.16, RT Briscoe Plc N0.14, among others.

On the contrary, Nigeria-German Chemical Plc led 10 other stocks on the losers table dropping by N0.61 to close at N11.66 per share, Costain West Africa Plc followed with a loss of N0.39 to close at N0.39 per share and Livestock Feeds Plc dipped by N0.03 to close at N0.59 per share.

Other share price losers include: Beco Petroleum Plc N0.03, Prestige Assurance Company Plc N0.08, Crusader Nigeria Plc N0.02, Afribank Plc N0.11, Nampak Nigeria Plc N0.12, Ashaka Cement Plc N0.30, National Salt Company Nigeria Plc N0.05. among others.

Equity trading appreciated by 73.84 per cent, however, a turnover of 680.07 million shares valued at nine billion was recorded in 5,611 deals, in contrast to the previous day’s turnover of 391.20 million shares valued at N3.60 billion in 6,771 deals.

The Banking sub-sector dominated the other sub-sector on the sectorial analysis accounting for 86.64 per cent of the market turnover with 589.19 million shares valued at N7.15 billion in 3,411 deals.  First Bank of Nigeria Plc was the most sought after in the sub-sector trading 176.85 million shares valued at N2.79 billion in 726 deals, Zenith Bank Plc followed with the exchange of 173.12 million shares valued at N2.77 billion in 344 deals and Diamond Bank Plc recorded 30.28 million shares valued at N264.15 million in 70 deals.

The Food/Beverages and Tobacco sub-sector followed on the sectorial analysis accounting for 3.79 per cent of the market turnover with 25.76 million shares valued at N604.77 million in395 deals.  Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc was the most active in the sub-sector trading 19.22 million shares valued at N307.55 million in 65 deals, Dangote Flour Mills Plc followed with the exchange of 3.60 million shares valued at N66.89 million in 98 deals and Flour Mills Nigeria Plc recorded 1.06 million shares valued at N82.92 million in 71 deals.