NSE market capitalisation up by N56bn to close for Easter celebration

Activities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Thursday closed for the Easter celebrations on a positive note with the market capitalisation increasing by N56 billion.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the market capitalisation improved by N56 billion or 0.63 per cent to close at N8.909 trillion compared with N8.853 trillion achieved on Wednesday.

In the same vein, the All-Share Index which opened at 25,736.92 grew by 162.99 points or 0.63 per cent to close at 25,899.91.

An analysis of the price movement table indicated that Nigerian Breweries led the gainers’ table, growing by N4.09 to close at N117.70 per share.

International Breweries followed with N1.74 to close at N18.80, while Mobil Oil gained N1.09 to close at N156 per share.

PZ Industries appreciated by N1.08 to close at N22.79 and Ecobank Transnational garnered 49k to close at N14.74 per share.

On the other hand, Seplat topped the losers’ chart, dropping by N8 to close at N300 per share.

Total came second with N2.45 to close at N140.01 and Cadbury lost 76k to close at N14.77 per share.

Nestle lost 55k to close at N700 and National Salt Company of Nigeria shed 34k to close at N6.52 per share.

Zenith Bank drove the volume of shares traded, accounting for 89.39 million shares worth N1.13 billion.

GT Bank followed with an exchange of 79.89 million shares valued at N1.28 billion and Transcorp traded 49.43 million shares worth N60.31 million.

FCMB Group sold 34.94 million shares valued at N26.76 million and United Capital traded 28.01 million shares worth N56.39 million.

NAN reports that a total of 397.05 million shares valued at N3.28 billion were exchanged by investors in 3,742 deals.

This was against the 398.28 million shares worth N2.65 billion transacted in 3,581 deals on Wednesday.

NAN also reports that the market will remain closed till March 29 due to public holidays declared by the Federal Government to mark Good Friday and Easter Monday.