By MICHAEL EBOH & CHINEDU IBEABUCHI

The value of listed equities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, represented by the market capitalization, appreciated by N19.15 billion last week to close at N7.397 trillion.

Specifically, the capitalization which opened the week at N7.487 trillion rose by 0.26 per cent to close at N7.397 trillion.

Another key performance indicator, the All-share index gained 60.16 points to close at 23,239.03 basis points from 23,178.87 points at which it opened.

Eterna Plc led 30 other companies on the price gainers’ chart, appreciating by 26.42 per cent or N0.56 to close the week at N2.68 per share; Glaxo SmithKline Consumer Plc followed with a gain of N0.55 or 1.93 per cent to close the week at N29.05 per share, while Union Bank Nigeria Plc garnered N0.47 to close at N4.88 per share.

Other share price gainers include: International Breweries Plc N0.42, Forte Oil Plc N0.42, National salt Company Plc N0.30, Smart Products Nigeria Plc N0.21, Cadbury Nigeria Plc N0.16, RT. Briscoe Plc N0.14 and UTC Nigeria Plc N0.13 among others.

On the contrary, Total Nigeria Plc led 35 other companies on the price losers’ category, dropping by N4.99 to close at N128.01; Dangote Cement Plc followed with a loss of N3.50 to close at N115 per share and Nigerian Breweries Plc dipped by N3.30 to close at N119 per share.

Other share price losers include: Conoil Plc N2.50, Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc N2.26, Arbico Plc N1.68, Unilever Nigeria Plc N0.95, PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc N0.93, Roads Nigeria Plc N0.60 and Presco Plc N0.51 among others.

Equity trading depreciated by 10.41 per cent in the week under review, as investors exchanged 1.318 billion shares valued at N9.136 billion in 19,200 deals, compared to the penultimate week’s turnover of 1.471 billion shares valued at N12.350 billion in 19,228 deals.

The Financial Services sector was the most active during the week with 1.113 billion shares valued at N7.055 billion in 11,381 deals.

Volume in the sector was largely driven by activity in the Banking sub-sector, led by trading in the shares of Zenith Bank Plc and First Bank of Nigeria Plc.