Stock Market Rises by N17bn

Trading activities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday maintained bullish rally, following price gains by major blue chip companies, as the All-share index rose by 0.2 per cent.

With 25 companies recording price appreciation compared to 20 that constituted the losers chart, market capitalization increased by N17billion, from N6,441trillion recorded on Monday to N6,458trillion while the All-share index rose by 53.06 basis points from 20,439.26 to N20,492.31.

On the price movement chart, PZ Cussons topped the gainers chart with 75kobo to close at N26.90 per share followed by Guinness with 50koboto close at N221.00 per share.

First bank added 44kobo to close at N11.37 per share while UACN gained43 kobo to close at N30.00 per share.

EcobankTrasNational Incoporated, Unilever, Presco added 35kobo, 35kobo and 34kobo to close at N10.25, N27.95 and N8.89 per share.

Nigerian Aviation Handling Company gained 31kobo to close at N7.65 per share while Eternaoil and National Salt Company of Nigeria added 19kobo and 18kobo to close at N4.12 and N3.83 per share.

However, Lourmills led others on the losers chart with 280 kobo to close at N53.20 per share. Conoil followed with140 kobo to close at N26.60 per share.

Nigerian Breweries lost 90kobo to close at N98.10 per share while UAC-Properties dropped 40kobo to close at N11.50 per share.

FO, Cadbury, Access bank lost 36kobo, 27kobo and 15kobo to close at N10.10, N9.02 and N6.80 per share.

Vitafoam dropped 12kobo to close at N3.30 per share while Honeywell flourmill also shed 12kobo to close at N2.33 per share.

On the activity chart, the banking subsector remains the most active stock with 179million shares worth N704million in 2,214deals, followed by the insurance subsector with 41million units valued at N40million.

The health care subsector featured with 16million units worth N13million.

Transactions in the shares of United Bank for Africa boosted activities in the banking subsector with 92million shares worth N190million followed by Diamond bank with 18million units valued at N44million.