By Dipo Olowookere
The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited depreciated by 0.70 per cent on Friday on the back of a decline in the share prices of BUA Cement and 23 others as investors sold off the stocks to book profit as they weigh their options.
As a result, the All-Share Index (ASI) decreased by 350.53 points to settle at 49,664.07 points compared with the previous day’s value of 50,014.60 points. Also, the market capitalisation fell by N189 billion to close at N26.787 trillion in contrast to N26.976 trillion on Thursday.
Business Post reports that the industrial goods sector suffered the heaviest loss on Thursday, depreciating by 4.61 per cent and was trailed by the banking counter, which lost 0.19 per cent as the energy space deflated by 0.16 per cent.
However, the consumer goods sector appreciated by 2.82 per cent influenced by gains in the share price of BUA Foods, while the insurance sector gained 1.75 per cent.
BUA Cement lost 9.95 per cent to trade at N52.95, Chams fell by 9.68 per cent to 28 Kobo, Cutix depreciated by 8.89 per cent to N2.05, Ellah Lakes went down by 6.98 per cent to N4.00, while Unity Bank declined by 6.52 per cent to 43 Kobo.
Conversely, BUA Foods topped the gainers’ log after rising by 10.00 per cent to N59.95, NEM Insurance appreciated by 9.98 per cent to N4.41, Courteville expanded by 9.80 per cent to 56 Kobo, Ikeja Hotel rose by 9.48 per cent to N1.27, while Multiverse improved by 8.44 per cent to N2.44.
During the session, investors bought and sold 750.3 million equities worth N5.3 billion in 4,076 deals compared with the 133.6 million equities worth N2.4 billion transacted in 4,292 deals in the earlier trading day, representing a decline in the number of deals by 5.03 per cent and an increase in the trading volume and value by 461.63 per cent and 117.72 per cent respectively.
Capital Hotels was the busiest stock of the session as it sold 478.2 million units valued at N3.4 billion and was trailed by eTranzact, which sold 77.6 million units worth N176.9 million.
Coronation Insurance exchanged 37.1 million units worth N14.9 million, FBN Holdings traded 30.5 million units for N333.2 million, while UBA traded 13.2 million units valued at N92.7 million.
