Equity trading activities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange closed on a negative note on Thursday, erasing some of the gains made since Tuesday.
The NSE’s All-Share Index fell by 0.6 per cent or 209.08 basis points from 34,548.73 basis points on Wednesday, to 34,339.65 points.
Similarly, the market capitalisation of the listed shares fell by 0.6 per cent or N67bn from N11.057tn the previous day. It was down to N10.990tn.
The NSE-30 Index was also down by 0.7 per cent or 11.25 basis points to 1,640.22 points, down from 1,651.47 points recorded the preceding day.
Other sectoral indices also recorded significant depreciation with the NSE Banking Index shedding 0.4 per cent or 1.62 basis points to close at 421.84 points, down from 423.46 points on Wednesday.
The Consumer Goods Index lost the highest, falling by 2.4 per cent or 23.95 basis points from 1,002.65 points to 978.70 points.
A total of 34 stocks recorded price depreciation while 27 stocks gained marginally at the close of trading activities on Wednesday.
Air Services and Logistics Plc emerged the highest loser of the day, shedding 9.8 per cent or 52 kobo to close at N4.75 per share.
Vono Plc also shed 9.7 per cent or 28 kobo to close at N2.60 per share.
Multitrex Plc and C & I Leasing Plc also shed 9.5 per cent each to close at 66 kobo and 57 kobo per share, respectively, while Wapic Insurance Plc lost 9.3 per cent to close at N1.07 per share.
On the other hand, Paints and Coatings Manufacturing Plc led on the price gainers’ chart, rising by 10 per cent or 14 kobo to close at N1.54 per share.
Presco Plc also gained 10 per cent or N2.25 to close at N24.75 per share.
Okomu Oil Palm Plc and Livestock Feeds Plc rose by 10 per cent each to close at N96.49 and N2.88 per share, respectively.
The banking sub-sector maintained its lead on the activity chart, accounting for 53 per cent of total volume traded.
In the sub-sector, investors exchanged 221.88 million shares, valued at N1.89bn in 2,808 transactions.
Trading in the shares of First City Monument Bank Plc, Sterling Bank Plc, Wema Bank Plc and Zenith Bank Plc drove the sub-sector’s turnover.
In all, investors exchanged 418.61 million shares, valued at N4.25bn in 6,887 transactions.