The bulls returned to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited on Wednesday, helping the platform to close in green territory by 0.41 per cent.
Bargain-hunting activity by investors lifted the stock market at midweek, with all but one sector pointing northwards.
The banking counter appreciated by 0.78 per cent, the insurance sector grew by 0.62 per cent, the consumer goods industry improved by 0.26 per cent, and the industrial goods index expanded by 0.05 per cent, while the energy segment lost 0.01 per cent.
When the closing gong was struck to close trading activity, the All-Share Index (ASI) was up by 979.36 points to 242,729.51 points from 241,750.15 points, and the market capitalisation increased by N629 billion to N155.781 trillion from the previous day’s N155.152 trillion.
Airtel Africa gained 10.00 per cent to close at N3,323.40, CAP appreciated by 9.99 per cent to N193.20, Zichis expanded by 9.97 per cent to N27.58, RT Briscoe advanced by 9.95 per cent to N14.15, and FTN Cocoa rose by 9.92 per cent to N7.31.
Conversely, SUNU Assurances lost 10.00 per cent to trade at N4.05, Guinness Nigeria slipped by 9.99 per cent to N402.60, Caverton depreciated by 8.33 per cent to N5.50, Fortis Global Insurance shrank by 7.69 per cent to N1.08, and May and Baker decreased by 6.82 per cent to N32.00.
Investor sentiment was strong after the bourse finished with 46 appreciating equities and 24 depreciating equities, indicating a positive market breadth index.
CWG was the most active stock with a turnover of 421.7 million units worth N8.9 billion, Access Holdings transacted 85.4 million units valued at N2.1 billion, Chams traded 83.4 million units worth N267.0 million, Secure Electronic Technology sold 59.8 million units valued at N59.5 million, and Zenith Bank exchanged 56.0 million units for N7.2 billion.
In all, a total of 1.4 billion shares valued at N59.4 billion were bought and sold by investors in 85,804 deals at midweek versus the 1.3 billion shares worth N75.2 billion transacted in 102,665 deals a day earlier, representing an increase in the trading volume by 7.69 per cent, and a decline in the trading value and number of deals by 21.01 per cent, and 16.42 per cent, respectively.
