Trading on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) closed positive on Thursday with market capitalisation returning to the N90 trillion mark as investors gained N143 billion.
The upturn was driven by renewed investor interest in Guinness Nigeria, Eunisell Interlinked, Regency Alliance Insurance, Thomas Wyatt Nigeria, and 26 other equities.
Market capitalisation rose from N89.865 trillion on Wednesday to N90.008 trillion at the close of trading.
Also, the All-Share Index (ASI) gained 226.84 points, or 0.16 per cent, to settle at 142,263.07, up from 142,036.23 recorded on Wednesday.
Market breadth also closed positive, with 30 gainers against 20 losers.
Guinness Nigeria led the gainers’ chart with a 10 per cent increase to close at N176 per share.
Eunisell Interlinked followed with a 9.89 per cent rise to N30.55, while Regency Alliance Insurance gained 9.82 per cent to close at N1.79.
Thomas Wyatt Nigeria rose by 9.80 per cent to N2.69, and McNicholas appreciated by 9.58 per cent to N3.86 per share.
Conversely, Consolidated Hallmark Holdings led the losers’ chart, shedding 7.59 per cent to close at N4.02.
The Initiates declined by 7.48 per cent to N12, while Sovereign Trust Insurance fell by 6.21 per cent to N2.87.
Omatek Ventures dipped 5.17 per cent to N1.10, and WAPIC Insurance dropped 4.19 per cent to N3.20 per share.
Overall market activity slowed compared with the previous session.
A total of 325.1 million shares worth N8.4 billion were traded in 22,779 deals, against 1 billion shares valued at N24.7 billion exchanged in 23,281 deals on Wednesday.
Access Corporation led the activity chart with 37.2 million shares worth N1 billion.
Zenith Bank followed with 24.3 million shares valued at N1.6 billion, while Fidelity Bank traded 20.5 million shares worth N426 million.
Secure Electronic Technology recorded 19.8 million shares valued at N15.9 million, and Veritas Kapital Assurance posted 14.9 million shares worth N32.9 million.
