Stock market index falls by 0.30%

Equity trading at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Wednesday ended on a negative note with market indicators closing on a downward trend.

The NSE All-Share Index fell by 0.30 per cent or 117.43 basis points to close at 38,844.17, after appreciated by 0.55 per cent to close at 38,961.60 the previous day.

The NSE-30 Index was also down; falling by 0.26 per cent to close at 1,792.58 points, from 1,797.21 Tuesday's close.

Also falling, the NSE Insurance Index, Consumer Goods Index and Oil and Gas Index shed 1.27 per cent, 0.84 per cent and 0.12 per cent to close at 145.35 basis points, 1,083.87 points and 303.54 points in that order.

The NSE Banking Index, however, gained 0.23 per cent to close at 406.40 basis points, up from 405.47 the previous day.

In all, investors exchanged 390.349 million shares valued at N2.925bn in 5,012 deals with 24 stocks rising and 24 others falling.

Union Dicon Salt Plc recorded the highest gain for the day after it rose by 10.11 per cent or 76 kobo to close at N8.28 per share, followed by International Breweries Plc, which gained five per cent or N1.20 to close at N25.20 per share.

Air Service Plc rose by 17 kobo or 4.94 per cent to close at N3.61 per share; Unity Bank Plc gained 3.92 per cent or two kobo to close at 53 kobo per share, while International Energy Insurance Plc recorded a price appreciation of 3.57 per cent or two kobo to close at 58 kobo per share.

On the other hand, Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc fell by 6.55 per cent or 26 kobo to close at N3.71 per share, followed by Jos International Breweries Plc, which recorded a price depreciation of 4.96 per cent or 23 kobo to close at N4.41 per share.

Costain West Africa Plc shed 4.85 per cent or five kobo to close at 98 kobo per share, while RT Briscoe Plc fell by 4.65 per cent or six kobo to close at N1.23 per share.

Access Bank traded 24.16 million shares worth N232.19 million, while Zenith Bank sold 18.59 million valued at N393.72 million.