By Providence Obuh
The two-day bullish run on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) was halted Wednesday, as the value of listed equities, represented by the market capitalisation and All-share index dropped by 0.23 per cent.

The capitalisation which opened at N6.169 trillion shed N14.23 billion to close at N6.155 trillion, while the index dropped by 58.2 basis points to close at 25,170.02 points from 25,228.22 points at which it opened.

The decline was occasioned by losses on the share prices of highly capitalised stocks, led by African Petroleum Plc with a loss of N1.23 to close at N23.48 per share, Unilever Nigeria Plc followed with a loss of N0.69 to close at N24.56 per share and UAC Nigeria Plc dipped by N0.45 to close at N41.00 per share.

Other share price losers include: University Press Plc N0.41, Ecobank Transnational Incorporation N0.38, First Bank of Nigeria Plc N0.30, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc N0.22, Skye Bank Plc N0.20, RT Briscoe Plc N0.18, United Bank for Africa Plc N0.14, among others.
On the contrary, Cement Company of Northern Nigeria Plc recorded the most share price gain, rising by N0.74 to close at N15.54 per share, Okomu Oil Palm Plc followed with a gain of N0.73 to close at N15.50 per share, Flour Mills Nigeria Plc garnered N0.70 to close at N71.75 per share.

Other share price gainers include: Julius Berger Nigeria Plc N0.54, PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc N0.50, Ashaka Cement Plc N0.32, Presco Plc N0.32, Longman Nigeria Plc N0.27, Dangote Flour Mills Plc N0.25, Nigeria Aviation Handling Company Plc N0.17, among others.

Trading, however, appreciated by 51.89 per cent, as a turnover of 292.59 million shares valued at N2.95 billion was recorded in 6,303 deals, compared to the previous day’s turnover of 192.63 million shares valued at N2.04 billion in 6,285 deals.

The Banking sub-sector was the most active on the sectorial analysis, accounting for 47.29 per cent of the market turnover, with 138.38 million shares valued at N1.12 billion in 3,126 deals.

Access Bank Plc was the most active in the sub-sector, trading 24.64 million shares valued at N196.74 million in 209 deals, Zenith Bank Plc followed an exchange of 21.21 million shares valued at N286.86 million in 345 deals and First Bank of Nigeria Plc recorded 18.27 million shares valued at N232.09 million in 704 deals.

Boosted by the activity of RT Briscoe Plc, the Automobile and Tyre sub-sector followed on the sectorial analysis, accounting for 18.41 per cent of the market turnover with 53.86 million shares valued at N190.65 million in 28 deals.

RT Briscoe Plc led in the sub-sector trading 53.85 million shares valued at N190.65 million in 27 deals and DN Tyre and Rubber Plc recorded 11,000 shares valued at N5,500 in one deal.