Trading on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) resumed Wednesday, after the Christmas holiday on a  bullish note, as the value of listed equities represented by the market capitalisation appreciated by N20.81 billion.

In particular, the capitalisation rose by 0.26 per  cent to close at N7.908 trillion from N7.887 trillion at which it opened.  Another key performance indices, the All share index garnered 0.26 per cent or 65.14 bases point to close at 24,754.30 points from 24,754.30 points.

The improvement was occasioned by gains on the share price of major blue chip companies led by Presco Plc with a gain of N0.29 to close at N6.22 per share, Union Homes Savings and Loan Plc followed with a gain of N0.04 to close at N0.88 per share and IHS Plc garnered N0.11 to close at N2.48 per share.

Other share price gainers include: Starcomms Plc N0.06, Union Bank Nigeria Plc N0.17, United Nigeria Textiles Plc N0.03, Nigerian Bags Manufacturing Company Plc N0.08, Ecobank Nigeria Plc N0.13, Glaxo Smithkline Consumer Plc N0.098, Cement Company of Northern Nigeria Plc N0.54, among others.

On the contrary, Sterling Bank Plc recorded the highest share price loss on the losers table dropping by N0.12 to close at N2.30 per share, Wema Bank Plc followed with a loss of N0.07 to close at N1.40 per share and Unity Bank Plc dipped by N0.06 to close at N1.20 per share.

Other share price losers include: Beco Petroleum Plc N0.03, RT Briscoe Plc N0.15, C and I Leasing Plc N0.08, Evans Medical Plc N0.06, Fidson Healthcare Plc N0.014, Cadbury Nigeria Plc N1.18, Japaul Oil and Maritime Serves Plc N0.06, among others.

Equity trading declined by 62.62 per cent, meanwhile a turnover of 211.60 million share valued at N1.67 billion was recorded in 3,939 deals, in contrast to Friday’s turnover of 566.04 million shares valued at N1.73 billion in 3,300 deals.

The Banking sub-sector dominated the other sub-sector on the sectorial analysis accounting for 65.35 per cent of the market turnover with 138.29 million shares valued at N1.22 billion in 2,547 deals.  Zenith Bank Plc was the most active in the sub-sector trading 24.70 million shares valued at N378.56 million in 502 deals.

The Insurance sub-sector trailed on the sectorial analysis accounting for 21.35 per cent of the market turnover with 45.18 million shares valued at N29.81 million in 197 deals.  Regency Alliance Insurance Company Plc recorded the most patronage in the sub-sector.