BY LAZARUS IBEABUCHI

The value of investors’ equities listed on the     Nigeria Stock Exchange, NSE, continued on a bullish trend last week, as the market capitalisation rose by N172.57 billion.

Specifically, the market capitalisation which opened at N8.066 trillion rose by 2.14 per cent to close at N8.238 trillion, while the All-Share index gained 536.53 points or 2.12 per cent to close at 25,873.71 basis points from 25,337.18 points.

Fifty-six stocks appreciated in price during the week, more than 40 stocks in the preceding week. Lafarge Wapco Plc led on the gainers’ table, rising by N4.99 to close at N54.99 per share from N50.00 per share at which it opened, followed by Flour Mills Nigeria Plc, soaring by N4.72 to close at N67.92 per share; and U A C N Plc which gained N4.21 to close at N43.24 per share.

Other price gainers include: Nigeria Breweries Plc – N2.50; Nestle Nigeria Plc – N2.50, Union Bank Nigeria Plc – N1.95, Okomu Oil Palm Plc – N1.80, UACN Property Development Company Plc – N1.62, Dangote Cement Plc – N1.26, and Cadbury Nigeria Plc – N1.19, among others.

On the contrary, 15 equities depreciated in price less than 29 stocks in the preceding week. Arbico Plc recorded the highest loss, shedding N0.51 to close at N9.88 per share from N10.39 per share at which it opened; followed by Beta Glass Company Plc dropping N0.50 to close at N9.53 per share; and Morison Industries Plc which lost N0.28 to close at N5.46 per share.

Other price losers in the top 10 category include: Cap Plc – N0.25, Learn Africa Plc – N0.10, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc – N0.08, Livestock Feeds Plc – N0.07, United Bank for Africa Plc – N0.07, A.G Leventis Nigeria Plc – N0.05, and RT Briscoe Plc N0.04, among others.

Meanwhile, the volume of equities traded appreciated by 21.1 per cent in the week under review, with a turnover of 2.695 billion shares valued at N15.70 billion in 24,717 deals in contrast to a total of 2.224 billion shares valued at N14.252 billion in 24,108 deals in penultimate week.