BY PROVIDENCE OBUH
The improvement  in the transactions on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) continued Tuesday, as the value of investment in equities appreciated for the second day running by N12.05 billion.

Specifically, equities value represented by the market capitalisation appreciated by 0.14 per cent to close at N8.548 trillion from N8.536 trillion at which it opened.  The All share index, a key market indicator, soared by 0.14 per cent or 37.72 bases points to close at 26,747.04 points from 26,709.32 points.

Equity trading appreciated by 14.82 per cent as a turnover of 295.27 million shares valued at N2.32 billion was recorded in 6,289 deals, in contrast to the previous day’s turnover of 257.15 million shares valued at N2.79 million in 6,924 deals.

The Banking sub-sector was the most sought after on the sectorial analysis accounting for 79.10 per cent of the market turnover with 233.59 million shares valued at N1.44 billion in 3,514 deals.

Wema Bank Plc dominated activities in the sub-sector trading 77.37 million shares valued at N135.17 million in 81 deals, Finbank Plc followed with the exchange of 35.16 million shares valued at N34.98 million in 132 deals and First Bank of Nigeria Plc recorded 22.69 million shares valued at N358.43 million in 820 deals.

The Insurance sub-sector came behind on the sectorial analysis accounting for 2.69 per cent of the market turnover with 7.95 million shares valued at N9.12 million in 149 deals.

AIICO Insurance Plc enjoyed the most patronage in the sub-sector trading 1.55 million shares valued at N1.59 million in 44 deals, Continental Reinsurance Plc followed with the exchange of 1.26 million shares valued at N1.38 million in seven deals and NEM Insurance Company Nigeria Plc recorded 1.14 million shares valued at N711,023.82 in 22 deals.

However, Custodian and Allied Product Plc recorded the highest per cent gain on the gainers table rising by N1.70 to close at N35.73 per share, International Breweries Plc followed with a gain of N0.31 to close at N6.54 per share and Custodian and Allied Insurance Plc garnered N0.16 to close at N3.46 per share.

Other share price gainers include: Guaranty Trust Assurance Plc N0.08, Wema Bank Plc N0.08.