By LAZARUS  IBEABUCHI

Values of equities listed on the Nigeria Stock Exchange, NSE, recorded an upward trend last week, as market capitalisation appreciated by N82.28 billion.

Specifically, the market capitalisation which opened the week at N7.366 trillion rose by 1.12 per cent to close at N7.448 trillion.

Another key performance indicator, the All-share index gained 258.5 points to close at 23,399.58 basis points from 23,141.08 points at which it opened.

Thirty equities appreciated in prices during the week, lower than thirty three in the preceding week. Nestle Nigeria Plc led on the gainers’ table by 5.01 per cent to gain N25.06, closing at N525.06 per share, followed by Guinness Nigeria Plc rising by 2.81 per cent or N6.80 to close at N249.00 per share, while Dangote Cement Plc rose by N2.98 or 2.71 per cent to close at N113.00 per share.

Other price gainers in the top 10 category include: Cap Plc N1.26, International Breweries Plc N1.14, Lafarge Wapco Plc N0.75, First Bank of Nig. Plc N0.55, University Press Plc N0.44, Okomu Oil Palm Plc N0.40 and Roads Nig Plc N0.33, among others.

On the other hand, thirty-four stocks depreciated in price lower than twenty-eight in the preceding week. 7-UP Bottling Company Plc led on the price losers’ table, dropping by 4.04 per cent or N1.62 to close at N38.50 per share, followed by Nigerian Breweries Plc with a loss of N1.61 or 1.33 per cent to close at N119.70 per share, while Conoil Plc lost  N1.09 or 4.99 per cent. Other price losers in the top 10 category include: Arbico Plc. N0.70, P Z Cussons Nigeria Plc N0.46, Nigerian Ropes Plc  N0.41, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc N0.28, Eterna Plc N0.22, Cement Co. of Northern Nig. Plc N0.18 and Pharma-Deko Plc N0.15, among others.

Equity trading depreciated by 5.8 per cent in the week under review, as investors exchanged 878.53 million shares valued at N9.907 billion in 11,633 deals, in contrast to a turnover of 932.58 million shares valued at N7.277 billion in 17,711 deals in the penultimate week.

The Financial Services sector was the most active during the week under review with 694.02 million shares valued at N4.56 billion exchanged by investors in 6,905 deals.

Volume in the sector was largely driven by Banking sub-sectors led by shares of Zenith Bank Plc, First Bank of Nigeria Plc and Diamond Bank Plc. Trading in the shares of the three banks accounted for 254.87 million shares, representing 48.72 per cent, 36.72 per cent and 29.01 per cent of the turnover recorded by the sub-sector, sector and total turnover for the week, respectively.