By Michael Eboh & Providence Obuh
DESPITE the fluctua tions in trading activities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) last week, investors recorded significant improvement in their holdings, as the value of their investments in quoted equities appreciated by N96.22 billion.

In particular, the market capitalisation, representing investments’ value appreciated by 1.85 per cent to close the week at N5.284 trillion from N5.188 trillion at which it opened the week, while the All-share index, another performance indicator, garnered 401.67 basis points to close the week at 22,060.36 points from 21,658.69 points.

Trading analysis in the week under review, shows that the market started the week on a bullish trend, rising from N5.188 trillion at which it opened to N5.394 trillion as at Tuesday. The upward trend was halted by profit-taking activities, as at the close of trading, Wednesday, dragging down the capitalisation to N5.330 trillion and N5.257 trillion, Thursday.

The bullish run resumed, Friday, as the capitalisation rose to N5.284 trillion.Fifty-two stocks enjoyed share price improvement in the week under review, led by  Nestle Nigeria Plc, with a gain of N12.50 to close at N252.00 per share, Benue Cement Company Plc followed with a gain of N3.50 to close at N50.00 per share and Conoil Plc garnered N3.11 to close at N33.57 per share.

Other share price gainers include: African Petroleum Plc N2.59, Unilever Nigeria Plc N2.45, UAC Nigeria Plc N2.32, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc N2.13, Cadbury Nigeria Plc N1.59, Nigerian Bottling Company Plc N1.18, Zenith Bank Plc N1.13 among others.
On the contrary, 48 stocks depreciated in price in the week under review, with Nigerian Enamelware Company Plc recording the most share price loss, dropping by N2.78 to close at N52.85 per share, Flour Mills Nigeria Plc followed with a loss of N1.20 to close at N37.80 per share and Ashaka Cement Plc dipped by N0.90 to close at N12.40 per share.

Other share price losers include: First Bank of Nigeria Plc N0.50, Cement Company of Northern Nigeria Plc N0.40, National Sports Lottery Plc N0.37, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc N0.35, Costain (West Africa) Plc N0.33, Incar Nigeria Plc N0.32, Afribank Nigeria Plc N0.28 among others.

Equity trading soared by 22.22 per cent, as a turnover of 2.2 billion shares valued at N12.8 billion was recorded in the week under review in 34,511 deals, in contrast to the previous week’s turnover of 1.8 billion shares valued at N9.97 billion in 35,987 deals. The Banking sub-sector emerged the most active in the sectorial analysis, accounting for 51.4 per cent of the market turnover, with 1.13 billion shares valued at N8.14 billion in 17,571 deals. FinBank Plc recorded the highest transactions in the sub-sector.

followed with the exchange of 163.56 million shares valued at N2.43 billion in 4,666 deals and Zenith Bank Plc recorded 142.11 million shares valued at N2.25 billion in 1,531 deals.

The Insurance sub-sector followed in the sectorial analysis, accounting for 12.73 per cent of the market turnover, with 280  million shares valued at N240.45 million in 2,043 deals. Goldlink Insurance dominated trading in the sub-sector, trading 77.91 million shares valued at N59.4 million in 89 deals, International Energy Insurance Plc followed with the exchange of 35.46 million shares valued at N22.76 million in 227 deals and Continental Reinsurance Plc recorded 21.8 million shares valued at N22.98 million in 67 deals