NGX All-Share Index advanced by 0.18%, capitalisation increased by 0.18% to N158.61trn

Nigerian equities market opened the week on a positive note, as the NGX All-Share Index (ASI) advanced by 0.18% to close at 245,730.53 points, while market capitalisation increased by 0.18% to close at N158.61trn. This brought the year-to-date return up to 57.91%, from 57.62% in the previous session.

The positive sentiment was driven by gains in FIRSTHOLDCO (+3.43%), UBA (+3.37%), and OMATEK (+9.88%), which outweighed sell-offs in CADBURY (-9.92%), CMFC (-9.79%), and TRANSEXPR (-9.57%).

Trading activity weakened, with total traded volume declining by 2.12% to 923.01mn units, while the value of transactions dipped by 19.02% to N37.85bn. HONYFLOUR (+4.11%) led the volume chart with 93.55mn units traded, while ARADEL (+0.00%) topped the value chart with N4.59bn worth of trades.

Market breadth was, however, negative at 0.66x, underscoring the broadly negative market sentiment, as twenty-five (25) stocks advanced against thirty-eight (38) decliners. CAVERTON (+10.00%) was the top gainer, while ETI (-9.95%) was the top loser of the session.