BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

On the list of the top ten performing stocks last week are building materials giant – Dangote Cement, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Chemical and Allied Products, CAP, Guaranty Trust Bank, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, and Presco Plc.

Others that made the list of top ten performing stocks include Glaxosmithkline Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, FBN Holdings Plc, and Learn Africa.

Dangote Cement Plc, which houses more than 25 percent of the Nigerian Stock Exchange’s market capitalisation, garnered N2.85 to close the market last week at N158.85 per share.

The shares have been able to gain N23.85 or 17.67 percent since the company was listed on the NSE in October, 2010.

Though the President, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, had promised at the point of listing that more shares of the company will be sold to the public 18 months after listing to make up the minimum requirement for companies listed on the main board, the number of listed shares is still deficient by 5.11 percent with only 20 percent listed.

Alhaji Aliko Dangote

Howbeit,DangCem is presently the biggest cement manufacturing company in sub-Saharan Africa with presence in over 14 African countries.

Unilever Nigeria Plc, which manufactures and markets foods and food ingredients, including home and personal care products, gained N2.00 at the end of transactions last week to close at N55.00 per share. Of the two companies listed in personal and home care sector of the NSE, Unilever Plc’s shares are the most priced. While it has gained N27.04 or 99.28 percent capital appreciation year-to date, the second listed equity in the same sector – PZ Cusson has risen by N19.48 or 92.67 percent.

however, the first quarter financial statement for period ended March 31st, 2013, published last week showed that the profit after tax declined to N1.26 billion. The revenue for the period was up by 1.1 per cent from N14.07 billion in March 2012, to N14.233 billion in the period under consideration.

CAP gained N1.70 to close as the third on the top ten gainers list for the week. It started the week at N37.00 and closed at N38.70 per share. CAP is listed on the building materials sector and manufactures paint and coatings.

GTB was the fourth top gainer during the week. Its share price closed at N25.55 after gaining N1.34 during the week’s trading. Beginning the year at N13.02, GTB has therefore gained N13.53 per share year-to-date to close at the present market price.

The bank recently raised the bar in Nigerian financial institutions with the  unveiling of its ‘Social Banking’ service on Facebook. The new offering  allows the public open GTBank accounts and get Customer Service support on Facebook.

Stanbic IBTC Holding Plc closed as the fifth with N1.10 price gain to close at N13.36. It began the year at N10.64, recording N2.72 or 25.56 percentage increases.

Others top ten gainers are Presco Plc, which went up by N0.97 to close at N24.50; Glaxo and Zenith Bank followed with N0.80 price gain apiece to close at N49.00 and N20.00 respectively. FBN Holdings and Learn Africa were the last two, rising by N0.69 and N0.60 to close at N19.60 and N2.12 respectively.