Equities: Market index falls by 0.06%

The equities market closed on a negative note on Monday with the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index falling by 0.06 per cent or 24.03 basis points to close at 39,222.02 basis points as against an appreciation of 0.32 per cent on Friday.

Similarly, the market capitalisation of the listed equities edged lower; shedding 0.06 per cent or N7bn to close at N12.545tn compared to a rise of 0.32 per cent or N40bn in the previous session.

The NSE 30 Index and NSE Banking Index, however, rose by 0.13 per cent and 1.36 per cent on Monday to close at 1,808.07 basis points and 411.98 basis points, respectively.

Also, the NSE Insurance Index and NSE Oil/Gas Index gained 0.62 per cent and 0.74 per cent to close at 143.98 basis points and 304.56 basis points in that order, while the NSE Consumer Goods Index shed 0.17 per cent or 1.98 basis points to close at 1,109.52 basis points.

At the close of transactions, 30 stocks rose while 34 stocks fell.

Prestige Assurance Company Plc led the price gainers' chart, rising by 10 per cent or six kobo to close at 66 kobo per share, followed by Presco Plc with a five per cent or N1.75 gain to close at N36.75.

Union Dicon Salt Plc rose by 4.97 per cent or 22 kobo to close at N4.65 per share, while Jos International Breweries Plc gained 4.94 per cent or 16 kobo to close at N3.40 per share.

The losers were led by Transnational Corporation of Nigeria, which shed 9.54 per cent or 56 kobo to close at N5.31 per share.

Wema Bank Plc shed 4.88 per cent or six kobo to close at N1.17.

In all, a total of 545,251 million shares valued at N3.975bn were traded in 5,929 deals on Monday.