By Precious Chimezie

Driven by activity in the financial services industry, transaction on the floor of the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) has remained on a bullish note as the twin market indicators continue to end higher.

Specifically, the NSE All-Share Index appreciated by 1.52% to close at 37,425.15 basis points from 36,864.71 basis points it opened with while the Market Capitalization equally increased by 1.53 per cent to closed at N12.899 trillion from N12.705 trillion from recorded the previous week.

Meanwhile, a total turnover of 2.518 billion shares worth N114.117 billion in 23,546 deals were traded this week by investors on the floor of the Exchange in contrast to a total of 2.211 billion shares valued at N30.636 billion that exchanged hands last week in 26,287 deals.
The Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 1.507 billion shares valued at N16.354 billion traded in 12,511 deals; thus contributing 59.85% and 14.33% to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. The Industrial Goods Industry followed with 441.914 million shares worth N89.356 million in 1,282 deals. The third place was occupied by Conglomerates
Industry with a turnover of 184.608 million shares worth N701.665 million in 929 deals.
Trading in the Top Three Equities namely – Dangote Cement Plc, Access Bank Plc and Zenith
International Bank Plc. (measured by volume) accounted for 833.966 million shares worth N95.969
billion in 3,203 deals, contributing 33.12% and 84.10% to the total equity turnover volume and value
respectively.

Review of activity in the market showed that Thirty-eight (38) equities appreciated in price during the week, lower than fifty-one (51) equities of the previous week. Twenty-eight (28) equities depreciated in price, higher than twenty-three (23) equities of the previous week, while one hundred and five (105) equities remained unchanged higher
than ninety-seven (97) equities recorded in the preceding week.
Gainers
Conoil Plc recorded the highest gain for the week, gaining 21.41 per cent or N6.42 kobo to close at N36.40 kobo, Presco Plc followed with a gain of 20.00 per cent or N12.20 kobo to close at N73.20 kobo while Dangote Sugar Refinery Old increased by N19.34 kobo or N1.76 kobo to close at N10.85 kobo. Other Companies appreciated in price were May & Baker Nigeria Plc 15.77 per cent, Stanbic IBTC Holding 15.51 per cent, Okomu oil Palm Plc15.36 , Fidson Healthcare Plc 14.97 per cent, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated 13.33 per cent, C&I Leasing plc 13.11 per cent Zenith Bank 12.85 per cent.
Losers

On the other hand, Cadbury Nigeria Plc recorded the highest loss for the week, shedding 18.17 kobo or N2.32 kobo to close at N10.45 kobo, Morrison Industries Plc trailed with a loss of 17.58 per cent or N0.29 kobo to close at N1.36 kobo, Livestock Feeds declined by 13.33 per cent or N0.12 kobo to close at N0.78 kobo. Other firms that recorded price depreciation were Neimeith international Pharmaceuticals Plc13.04 per cent. UACN Property Development Company Liked 18.94 per cent, Unity Bank zplc8.57 per cent, AIICo Insurance Plc 8.33 per cent, Red Star Express Plc 7.41 per cent, Chellarams Plc 4.99 per cent, Cement Company of Nigeria Plc 4.95 per cent.
Also traded during the week were a total of 1.166 million units of Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) valued at N16.169 million executed in 17 deals compared with a total of 1.732 million units valued at N13.711 million transacted last week in 19 deals.

A total of 5,850 units of Federal Government Bonds valued at N5.702 million were traded this week
in 7 deals, compared with a total of 750 units valued at N695,229.29 transacted last week in eight deals