By Providence Obuh
A declining trend was recorded on the Nigerian capital market, last week, as investors lost N172.13 billion of their investments on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

In particular, the market capitalisation, representing investment value, dropped by 2.73 per cent to close at N6.118 trillion from N6.290 trillion at which it opened the week.

Another performance indices the All share index shed 707.67 basis points to close at 25,154.26 points from 25,861.93 points at which it opened the week.

Nestle Nigeria Plc led  62 other stocks on the price losers’ table, dropping by N8.00 to close at N359.50 per share, followed by Oando Oil Plc with a loss of N5.00 to close at N73.00 per share and  Benue Cement Company Plc dipped by N4.10 to close at N61.95 per share.

Other share price losers include: Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc N3.88, Cadbury Nigeria Plc N2.72,
Lafarge Cement WAPCO Nigeria Plc N2.50, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc N2.40, Chemical and Allied Products Plc N1.50, PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc N1.49, Dangote Flour Mills Plc N1.46, among others.

On the other hand, Conoil Plc led 22 other stocks on the price gainers’ table, with a gain of N2.50 to close at N52.50 per share, UAC Nigeria Plc followed with N0.50 to close at N41.50 per share and Beta Glass Company Plc rose by N0.41 to close at N16.39 per share.

Other share price gainers’ include: University Press Plc N0.37, International Breweries Plc N0.35,
Zenith Bank Plc N0.35, Afribank Nigeria Plc N0.19, Associated Bus Company Plc N0.15,
Honeywell Flour Mills Plc N0.15, Vitafoam Nigeria Plc N0.12, among others.

Equities trading in the week under review, plunged by 4.68 per cent, as a  turnover of 1.63 billion shares valued at N13.7 billion was recorded in 30,368 deals, in contrast to the previous week’s turnover of 1.71 billion shares valued at N17 billion in 32,098 deals.

The Banking sub-sector was the most active on the sectorial analysis, accounting for 53.58 per cent of the market turnover with 873.5 million shares valued at N7.52 billion in 16,564 deals.

Zenith Bank Plc boosted activity in the sub-sector trading 116.96 million shares valued at N1.66 billion in 2,031 deals, First Bank of Nigeria Plc followed with the exchange of 106.99 million shares valued at N1.43 billion in 3,612 deals and Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc recorded 83.46 million shares valued at N797.61 million in 277 deals.

The Insurance sub-sector trailed on the sectorial analysis, accounting for 10.12 per cent of the market turnover, with 164.8 million shares valued at N169.35 million in 1,644 deals. Goldlink Insurance Plc recorded the most patronage in the sector trading 45.55 million shares valued at N34.20 million in 124 deals, AIICO Insurance Plc followed with exchange of 23.07 million shares valued at N26.66 million in 450 deals and International Energy Insurance Plc recorded 21.18 million shares valued at N10.97 million in 125 deals.