By Dipo Olowookere
A 0.16 per cent loss was recorded by the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited on Friday as investors continue to monitor the political happenings in the country ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Business Post reports that only the insurance counter closed higher yesterday after it chalked up 1.21 per cent. This was not enough to salvage the situation.
The banking index declined by 0.97 per cent, and the consumer goods sector gave up 0.03 per cent, while the industrial and energy indices closed flat.
When the bourse closed for the day, the All-Share Index (ASI) was down by 403.40 points to 250,808.27 points from 251,211.67 points, and the market capitalisation shrank by N262 billion to N162.843 trillion from N163.105 trillion.
The market breadth index was at equilibrium yesterday after Customs Street finished with 26 price gainers and 26 price losers.
PZ Cussons shed 9.91 per cent to quote at N66.40, eTranzact fell by 9.84 per cent to N11.00, Zichis eased by 8.29 per cent to N18.25, FTN Cocoa crumbled by 8.19 per cent to N7.62, and Royal Exchange tumbled by 7.83 per cent to N1.06.
Conversely, AIICO Insurance advanced by 10.00 per cent to N4.18, Trans-Nationwide Express also grew by 10.00 per cent to N2.97, Livestock Feeds jumped by 9.88 per cent to N8.90, Livingtrust Mortgage Bank surged by 9.87 per cent to N3.45, and ABC Transport jumped by 9.63 per cent to N7.40.
The most active equity was Access Holdings, with a turnover of 183.6 million units worth N5.5 billion. eTranzact transacted 41.2 million units valued at N454.7 million, CMFC exchanged 38.5 million units for N179.3 million, Fidelity Bank sold 27.8 million units worth N606.0 million, and Chams traded 26.3 million units valued at N82.2 million.
A total of 557.2 million shares worth N27.6 billion exchanged hands in 53,450 deals on Friday, compared with 1.0 billion shares valued at N53.6 billion transacted in 44,469 deals on Wednesday, as the exchange was closed for business on Thursday for the nation’s 66th Independence Day celebration.
This showed that the trading volume decreased by 44.28 per cent, the trading value moderated by 48.51 per cent, and the number of deals increased by 20.20 per cent.
