By Nkiruka Nnorom

ACTIVITIES on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, last week continued on a negative note as investors lose N104 billion, thereby bringing the total losses in two consecutive weeks to N195 billion.

This was in spite of financial statement released by 46 quoted companies for the nine month period ended September 2016, which failed to lift investors’ appetite towards stocks.

The trading statistics showed that the market capitalisation which closed the market the previous at N9.479 trillion fell by 1.10 per cent to close at N9.375 trillion, while the second measurement indicator, the All Share Index, ASI, declined by the same margin to settle at 27,294.21 basis points from 27,596.52 points.

However, all other Indices finished higher during the week with the exception of the NSE Premium, NSE 30 Index, NSE Banking, NSE Insurance Indices that depreciated by 3.53 per cent, 0.43 per cent, 0.44 per cent, and 0.29 per cent respectively.  Conversely, the industrial goods index appreciated the most, rising by 2.70 per cent to close at 1,728.51points. The oil and gas index rose by 0.31 per cent to 324.03 points, while the consumer goods index was up 0.29 per cent to 728.96 points.

A total of 21 stocks appreciated in price during the week, higher than 16 of the previous week, while 41 stocks depreciated in price, higher than 38 of the previous week. 118 equities remained unchanged lower than 126 equities recorded in the preceding week.

Fidson Healthcare Plc led on the losers chart, dropping by 16.45 per cent to close at N1.27, followed by Ashaka Cement Plc, which fell by 9.66 per cent to close at N12.26 and Honeywell Flourmills Plc that went down by 9.23 per cent to close at N1.18 per share. May & baker Plc depreciated by 8.89 per cent to close at N0.82, while Skye bank, which closed as the last on the top five losers declined by 7.81 per cent to close at N0.59 per share. Further breakdown showed that Caverton Offshore Group Plc led the gainers with 27.91 per cent increase to close at N1.10, followed by Lafarge Africa Plc with 16.25 per cent increase to close at N50.00, while Total Nigeria Plc appreciated by 13.29 per cent to close at N329.99 per share.

At the end of the week, investors exchanged 678.710 million shares worth N6.875 billion in 11,808 deals in contrast to a total of 674.721 million shares valued at N7.657 billion that exchanged hands the previous week in 12,290 deals.