The Nigerian stock market continued on a bullish trend on Thursday, gaining N257 billion.
Market capitalisation rose by N257 billion or 0.37 per cent, closing at N68.800 trillion when compared to N68.543 trillion recorded on Wednesday.
Similarly, the All-Share Index (ASI) climbed 408.31 points or 0.37 per cent, reaching 109,467.64 from 109,059.33 recorded earlier.
The upward trend was driven by strong buying interest in medium and large-capitalised stocks, including: Honeywell Flour Mill, Nestle, Beta Glass, Nigerian Police Force Microfinance Bank, Neimeth International Pharmaceutical and 32 others.
Also, the Market breadth closed positive with 37 gainers and 23 losers.
On the gainers’ chart, Honeywell Flour Mill rose by 10 per cent, settling at N16.50 while Nestle also grew by 10 per cent, finishing at N1,331.00 per share.
Beta Glass soared by 9.98 per cent, closing at N213.70 and Nigerian Police Force Microfinance Bank increased by 9.81 per cent, closing at N2.35 per share.
Similarly, Neimeth International Pharmaceutical gained by 9.77 per cent to close at N3.37 per share.
On the losers’ chart, Multiverse Mining dropped by 9.64 per cent ending the session at N8.90 while WAPIC Insurance fell by 4.74 per cent, closing at N2.01 per share.
Lasaco Assurance declined by 4.53 per cent, closing at N2.32 and May and Baker shed by 3.82 per cent, settling at N12.60 per share.
Also, AIICO Insurance lost by 3.61 per cent, closing at N1.60 per share.
A total of 729.88 million shares worth N13.88 billion were exchanged across 14,743 transactions.
This is in contrast with 531.29 million shares worth N19.81 billion that was exchanged across 14,870 transactions earlier.
Transactions in the shares of First City Monument Bank topped the activity chart with 273.04 million shares worth N2.57 billion.
Fidelity Bank followed with 43.45 million shares valued at N896.73 million while Caverton Offshore Support Group traded 35.091 million valued at N144.67 million.
AIICO Insurance sold 33.85 million shares worth N54.26 million and FTN Cocoa Processors transacted 26.36 million shares valued at N63.27 million.