BY  PROVIDENCE OBUH
The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) opened for four days last week following a public holiday declared to commemorate Good Friday celebration as the value of listed equities dropped by N5.33 billion.

In particular, the market capitalisation of the 194 First -Tier equities declined by 0.07 per cent to close at N7.994 trillion from N7.999 trillion at which it opened the week under review.

Another key performance index, the All-Share Index depreciated by 16.67 points or 0.07  per cent to close at 25,020.08 points from 25,036.75 points.

Nestle Nigeria Plc led 34 other stocks on the losers’ table, dropping by N84.17 or 18.62 per cent to close at N367.83 per share, African Petroleum Plc followed with a loss of N2.14 or 9.50 per cent to close at N20.38 per share and  Conoil Plc dropped by N1.80 or 4.99 per cent to close at N34.30 per share.

Other share price losers include: Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc N1.19, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated Plc N0.79, First Bank of Nigeria Plc N0.72, Access Bank Plc N0.58, Zenith Bank Plc N0.42, DN Meyer Plc N0.36, International Breweries Plc N0.29, among others.

On the contrary, 56 stocks appreciated in price during the week, higher than the 50 of the preceding week. Guinness Nigeria Plc led on the gainers’ table with a gain of N6.00 or 3.06 per cent to close at N202.00 per share, Chemical & Allied Product Plc followed with a gain of N3.89 or (10.24 per cent to close at N41.89 per share and PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc garnered N2.76 or 10.12 per cent to close at N30.04 per share.

Other share price gainers’ include: UAC of Nigeria Plc N2.74, Nigerian Breweries Plc N2.36,
Flour Mills Nigeria Plc N2.21, Cadbury Nigeria Plc N1.57, Ashaka Cement Plc N1.18, Berger Paints Plc N1.13, Lafarge WAPCO Plc N1.00, among others.

A turnover of 2.26 billion shares valued N14.15 billion was recorded in 22,716 deals as transaction plunge 15.36 per cent, in contrast to a total of 2.67 billion shares valued at N15.87 billion in 28,011 deals.

The Banking sub-sector was the most active during the week, accounting for 42.52 per cent of the market turnover (measured by turnover volume); with 961.27 million shares valued at N8.99 billion exchanged by investors in 12,581 deals.

Volume in the Banking sub-sector was largely driven by activity in the shares of First Bank of Nigeria Plc trading 189.42 million shares valued at N2.53 billion in 2,704 deals, United Bank for Africa Plc followed with the exchange 176.27 million shares valued at N1.41 billion in 1,829 deals and  Zenith Bank Plc recorded 129.38 million shares valued at N1.94 billion in 1,229 deals.

The Conglomerate sub-sector followed on the week’s activity chart accounting for 34.73 per cent of the market turnover with 785.02 million shares valued at N1.36 billion in 1,379 deals,