By Providence Obuh

The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has resumed the new year, Tuesday 4, 2011, after a one day public holiday declared by the federal Government to hold Monday.

However, the market indicators used for measuring the performance indices, the market capitalisation and the All share index appreciated by 1.34 per cent each.

In particular, the capitalisation buoyed by 106.20 billion to close at N8.019 trillion from N7.913 trillion at which it opened, while the index buoyed by 332.41 bases points to close at 25,102.93 points from 24,770.52 points.

Analysts have said that the improvement was as a result of investors strong commitment towards equity bargain, noting that the upward movement was mainly led by impressive gains recorded in the banking sectors.

Meanwhile, Japaul Oil and Maritime Services Plc led on the gainers table with a gain of N0.07 to close at N1.47 per share, Unity Bank Plc followed with a gain of N0.06 to close at N1.26 per share, and Union Bank Nigeria Plc garnered N0.021 to close at N4.41 per share.

Other share price gainers include: Ikeja Hotel Plc N0.09, Ashaka Cement Plc N1.32, Access Bank Plc N0.47, Diamond Bank Plc N0.37, Vono Product Plc N0.14, Fidelity Bank Plc N0.13, Oceanic Bank International Nigeria Plc N0.12, among others.

On the contrary, Starcomms Plc led 15 other stocks on the losers table dropping by N0.07 to close at N1.37 per share, Custodian and Allied Insurance Plc followed with a loss of N0.15 to close at N3.00 per share and Neimeth International Pharmaceutical Plc dipped by N0.05 to close at N1.01 per share.

Other share price losers include: National Salt Company Nigeria Plc N0.30, Evans Medical Plc N0.05, UTC Nigeria Plc N0.03, University Press Plc N0.30, Afromedia Plc N0.02, FTN Cocoa Processors Plc N0.02, Unilever Nigeria Plc N0.80, among others.

Transaction dropped by 9.77 per cent, as a turnover of 236.15 million shares valued at N2.36 billion was recorded in 4,541 deals, in contrast to Friday’s turnover of 261.72 million shares valued at N1.42 billion in 3,137 deals.  The Banking sub-sector dominated the other sub-sector on the sectorial analysis accounting for 67.75 per cent of the market turnover with 159.98 million shares valued at N1.44 billion in 2,680 deals.

Fidelity Bank Plc recorded the highest activity in the sub-sector trading 26.64 million shares valued at N74.99 million in 79 deals, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc followed with the exchange of 25.11 million shares valued at N451.74 million in 422 deals and Zenith Bank Plc recorded 16.12 million shares valued at N247.26 million in 418 deals.

The Food/Beverage and Tobacco sub-sector followed on the sectorial analysis accounting for 9.90 per cent of the market turnover with 23.37 million shares valued at N371.78 million in 430 deals.  Dangote sugar Refinery Plc recorded the most patronage in the sub-sector trading 15.30 million shares valued at N244.87 million in 92 deals, Tantalizers Plc followed with the exchange of 3.71 million shares valued at N1.87 million in 17 deals and Flour Mills Nigeria Plc recorded 1.15 million shares valued at N80.91 million in 65 deals.