Equities Market Extends Bullish Run, Gains N1.22trn

The equities market on Tuesday extended its bullish run, gaining N1.216 trillion on increased demand for blue-chip stocks.
 
The market capitalisation, which opened at N157.739 trillion, rose by N1.216 trillion or 0.77 per cent to close at N158.955 trillion.
 
Similarly, the All-Share Index (ASI) increased by 1,883.24 points or 0.77 per cent, from 244,199.39 to 246,082.63.
 
The uptrend also pushed the market’s Year-to-Date (YTD) return to 58.14 per cent, while market breadth closed positive with 42 gainers against 19 losers.
 
FTN Cocoa Processors and McNichols led the gainers’ chart, appreciating by 10 per cent each, closing at N8.25 and N4.95 per share, respectively.
 
Sunu Assurances followed with a gain of 9.94 per cent, settling at N3.43, while Sovereign Trust Insurance rose by 9.57 per cent to N2.06 per share.
 
Caverton Offshore Support Group also gained by 9.52 per cent, ending the session at N4.60 per share.
 
On the losers’ chart, Tripple Gee led with a decline of 9.72 per cent to close at N2.60 per share.
 
ABC Transport followed with a loss of 9.52 per cent to close at N4.75, while Nigerian Aviation Handling Company declined by 9.22 per cent to N136.35 per share.
 
RT Briscoe also shed 9.21 per cent, finishing at N10.35, while UPDC Real Estate Investment Trust (UPDC REIT) declined by 4.93 per cent, settling at N13.50 per share.
 
Trading activity improved during the session, with total volume rising by 7.44 per cent to 651.32 million shares.
 
The transactions were valued at N40.77 billion and executed in 43,760 deals.
 
Access Corporation led trading by volume with 129.89 million shares, representing 19.94 per cent of the total volume traded.
 
MTN Nigeria recorded the highest value of transactions at N4.69 billion, accounting for 11.51 per cent of the day’s total value.