Equity trading on the Nigerian Exchange Limited closed on a mildly cautious note on Monday, as the benchmark All-Share Index shed 306.76 basis points or 0.12 per cent to settle at 250,501.51 points.
Total market turnover recorded 875,262,157 units traded across 53,797 deals. Despite the overall slight retreat in the index, market sentiment remained balanced across sub-sectors with selective bargain hunting in insurance, agricultural, and tech stocks.
The day’s trading saw Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc emerge as the top gainer, rising 10.00 per cent to close at N2.31. Agricultural firm FTN Cocoa Processors Plc followed closely with a 9.97 per cent gain to N8.38, while Tripple Gee and Company Plc added 9.87 per cent to settle at N2.56.
Learn Africa Plc and Livestock Feeds Plc also registered strong performances, advancing 9.80 per cent to N8.40 and 9.55 per cent to N9.75, respectively.
On the decline side, Critical Minerals Financing Corp Plc led the losers’ chart, dropping 9.80 per cent to close at N4.05.
ABC Transport Plc fell by 9.46 per cent to N6.70, and Africa Prudential Plc retreated 7.31 per cent to finish at N10.15. Energy player Japaul Gold & Ventures Plc shed 6.94 per cent to N2.68, while Coronation Insurance Plc closed 6.36 per cent lower at N2.21.
The Financial Services sector dominated trading volume across both the Premium and Main Boards, accounting for over 517 million units traded. Activity in the sector was driven heavily by Access Holdings Plc with 440,652,920 units traded, alongside Fidelity Bank Plc with 34,252,376 units and Zenith Bank Plc with 25,444,704 units.
Tech volume was propelled by Chams Holding Company Plc, which recorded 25,797,196 units across 809 trades, as MTN Nigeria Communications Plc gained 0.24 per cent to close at N842.00.
In the consumer goods sector, Nestle Nigeria Plc dropped 5.17 per cent to N2,750.00, weighing on the sector’s index, whereas Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc gained 2.94 per cent to close at N70.00.cover