BY MICHAEL EBOH & PROVIDENCE OBUH
The declining trend on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) was halted, Tuesday, as the value of listed equities, driven by gains on the share prices of major blue chips companies, appreciated by N36.52 billion.

In particular, equities’ value, represented by the market capitalisation, rose by 0.46 per cent to close at N7.909 trillion from 7.872 trillion at which it opened.

Also, the All-share index, driven by gains recorded on the shares prices of highly capitalised stocks and major banking stocks, rose by 114.3 basis points or 0.46 per cent to close at 24,754.04 points from 24,639.74 points.

The NSE 30, representing highly capitalised stocks, rose by 0.62 per cent to 1,069.78 points from 1,063.24 points at which it opened, while the NSE Banking index, representing key banking stocks appreciated by 1.98 per cent to close at 397.82 points from 390.09 points.

Other key market indices, the NSE Food/Beverage index, however, dipped by 0.57 per cent to close at 793.19 points from 797.72 points, NSE Insurance index also depreciated by 1.26 per cent to close at 168.73 points from 170.88 points, while the NSE Oil/Gas index closed flat at 328.28 points.

Costain West Africa Plc recorded led with a share price appreciation of five a gain of 4.85 per cent or N0.25 to close at N5.40 per share, C & I Leasing Plc followed with a gain of N0.06 to close at N1.30 per share and Bags Manufacturing Company Plc garnered N0.12 to close at N2.67 per share.

On the other hand, Diamond bank Plc shed 4.96 per cent or N0.35 to close at N6.70 per share, National Salt Company Nigeria Plc followed with a loss of N0.27 to close at N5.25 per share and Vono Product Plc dropped by N0.14 to close at N2.80 per share.

Equity trading appreciated by 124.32 per cent as a turnover of 341.15 million shares valued at N3.26 million was recorded in 5,815 deals compared to the previous day’s turnover of  million shares valued at N billion in deals.

The Banking sub-sector was the most sought after on the sectorial analysis accounting for 74.32 per cent of the market turnover with 253.53 million shares valued at N2.88 billion in 3,749 deals.

Zenith Bank Plc was the most active in the sub-sector trading 130.70 million shares valued at N2.06 billion in 414 deals, Access Bank Plc followed with the exchange of 19.08 million shares valued at N157.64 million in 582 deals and Fidelity Bank Plc recorded 14.89 million shares valued at N41.13 million in 100 deals.