A deep look into the NSE market statistics shows that the Wednesday performance was largely driven by buy sentiment in stocks such as Dangote Cement and Nigerian Breweries as last minute traders’ position ahead of the New Year.
Performance across sectors was broadly bullish. The NSE Premium Index topped the sectoral indices as it appreciated by 7.2 per cent due to gains recorded by Dangote Cement which added 8.59 per cent and FBN Holdings which appreciated by 7.61 per cent. Conversely, the NSE Banking Index was the sole index loser for the day, dropping 0.1 per cent as a result of losses incurred by Zenith Bank (1.06 per cent) and GT Bank (0.60 per cent).
Market breadth closed positive with 33 gainers and nine losers. The top three gainers were Dangote Cement, with 8.59 per cent or N13.05 to close at N164.95 per share followed by Nigeria Breweries Plc., which added 7.83 per cent or N9.00 to close at N124 per share, while FBN Holdings Plc., gained 7.61 per cent or 36 kobo to close at N5.09 per share.
On the flip side, E-tranzact Plc topped the losers chart with a decline of fiveper cent or 16 kobo to close at N3.04 per share, followed by Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc., which depreciated by 4.99 per cent or 18 kobo to close at N3.43 per share, while Transcorp Hotels Plc., dropped 4.92 per cent or 30 kobo to close at N5.80 per share.
At the end of the day’s transactions, investors on the Stock Exchange had, in 2,559 deals, exchanged a total of 1.4 billion shares worth N1.95 billion against 1.3 billion shares worth N3.6 billion exchanged in 2,455 deals in previous transactions.
