By Providence Obuh
Trading on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) continued Monday, on a bullish note as the value of listed equities appreciated by N106.37 billion.

Specifically, the market indicators for measuring the performance indices, the  market capitalisation and the All share index  rose by 1.83 per cent each.The capitalisation closed at N5.931 trillion from N5.825 trillion at which it opened, while the index garnered 434.1 bases points to close at 24,206.50 points from 23,772.40 points.

The improvement was brought about by gains on the share price of  major blue chip companies led by Flourmills Nigeria Plc with a gain of N3.04 to close at N63.89 per share, Nigerian Breweries Plc followed with a gain of N1.58 to close at N78.08 per share and Cadbury Nigeria Plc garnered N1.25 to close at N27.52 per share.

Other share price gainers include: PZ Cussons Nigerian Plc N1.10, Dangote Sugar refinery Plc N0.75, Dangote Flour Mills Plc N0.66, Zenith Bank Plc N0.51, Ecobank Transnational Incorporation Plc N0.50, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc N0.48, First Bank of Nigeria Plc N0.37, among others.

On the other hand, Ashaka Cement Plc led on the losers table dropping by N1.11 to close at N21.38 per share, Berger Paint Plc followed with a loss of N0.34 to close at N7.59 and 7Up Bottling Company Plc N0.30 to close at N36.65 per share.
Other share price losers include: Costain West Africa Plc N0.22, National Salt Company Nigeria Plc N0.19, Capital Hotel Plc N0.14, Custodian and Allied Insurance Plc N0.13, IHS Plc N0.12, C and I Leasing Plc N0.09, Eterna Oil and Gas Plc N0.08, among others.

However the NSE 30 which is used to measure the performance of blue chips on the NSE garnered 1.94 per cent,  NSE Banking recorded a gain of  2.85 per cent, NSE Food and Beverages went  up by 2.60 per cent NSE Oil and Gas rose by 0.16 per cent and NSE Insurance dropped by 0.50 per cent.

Equities trading decline by 51.77 per cent as a turnover of 200.76 million shares valued at N1.93 billion was recorded in 5,131 deals, in contrast to Friday’s turnover of 416.27 million shares valued at N2.12 billion in 5,717 deals.

The Banking sub-sector was the most active on the sectorial analysis accounting for 66.57 per cent of the market turnover with 131.64 million shares valued at N958.03 million in 2,715 deals.

Access Bank Plc dominated the other activities in the sub-sector trading 43.56 million shares valued at N417.14 million in 234 deals, Bank PHB Plc followed with the exchange of 18.49 million shares valued at N18.46 million in 84 deals and First Bank of Nigeria Plc recorded 11.20 million shares valued at N130.6 million in 679 deals.

The Insurance sub-sector followed on the sectorial analysis accounting for 9.94 per cent of the market turnover with 19.96 million shares valued at N15.55 million in 393 deals.

Goldlink Insurance Plc recorded the highest patronage in the sub-sector trading 10.03 million shares valued at N5.01 million in four deals, AIICO Insurance Plc followed with the exchange of 3.16 million shares valued at N2.68 million in 283 deals and NEM Insurance Company Nigeria Plc recorded 2.22 million shares valued at N1.19 million in 16 deals.