Gains reported by insurance firms, Seplat Energy, JapaulGold and May& Baker Plc drove the market capitalization of the Nigerian Exchange up by N317bn.
The NGX All-Share Index and the market capitalisation rose by 0.57 per cent to close at 102,149.93 points and N55.900tn, respectively.
The year-to-date gains of the benchmark index also rose to 36.61 per cent from 35.82 per cent at the end of the previous trading session.
In terms of participation in the market, the key factors such as deals, volume and value of traded units ended up in the green zone.
That is, Trading volume, UBA (+1.34%) led with 74.88 million units, followed by TRANSCORP (-0.76%) with 34.19 million units, STERLINGNG (-0.78%) with 33.07 million units, JAPAULGOLD (+9.80%) with 31.93 million units, and ACCESSCORP (+0.35%) with 27.50 million units.
While the trading value, UBA (+1.34%) led with N2.25 billion, followed by GTCO (+2.46%) with N957.62 million, SEPLAT (+10.00%) with N820.64 million, ACCESSCORP (+0.35%) with N788.68 million, and ZENITHBANK (+1.42%) with N639.24 million.
Trading sentiment was positive for stocks worth over N1 trillion as SEPLAT (+10.00%), GTCO (+2.46%), ACCESSCORP (+0.35%), UBA (+1.34%), ZENITHBANK (+1.42%), and GEREGU (+5.39%) recorded price gains, while Transcorp Hotels (-1.2%) recorded a price decline.
Other members of the SWOOT category, AIRTELAFRI, BUACEMENT, BUAFOODS, DANGCEM, and MTNN recorded no price change. FBNH recorded a 1.17% price decline in continuation of its bearish run.
Recall that the market cap crossed 100,000 basis points on Wednesday. The value of traded equities improved by 28.19 per cent to N10.302bn, while the traded volume appreciated by 3.21 per cent to 504.194 million units.
While the number of deals executed on the exchange stood at 12,235, marking a 1.28 per cent increase over the previous day’s figure.
Import to note is the fact that, Seplat Energy Plc has become the equity with the highest price tag on the NGX, closing at N3,074 per unit on Thursday.
The local oil exploration firm, which is listed also on the London Stock Exchange, has a market cap of N1.809tn.
It gained 4.82 per cent to close trading at 143.60 British Pound Sterling at London Stock Exchange.
The next equity with a high price tag is Airtel Africa at N2,000 per unit with a market cap worth N7.516tn.
Here is the Market Indices
NGX All-Share Index: 102,149.93 points
% Day Change: +0.57%
Day’s Lowest: 101,470.48 points
Day’s Highest: 102,149.93 points
% YTD: +36.61%
Market Cap: N55.90 trillion
Volume Traded: 504.19 million units
Value Traded: N10.30 billion
Top Gainers
SEPLAT: +10.00% to close at N3074.60
UNIVINSURE: +10.00% to close at N1.34
AIICO: +9.84% to close at N1.34
JAPAULGOLD: +9.80% to close at N2.80
MAYBAKER: +9.77% to close at N7.30
NEM: +9.72% to close at N7.90
Top Losers
IKEJAHOTEL: -9.91% to close at N7.18
HONYFLOUR: -9.70% to close at N4.47
LINKASSURE: -8.40% to close at N1.20
UPDCREIT: -8.06% to close at N5.70
MCNICHOLS: -7.53% to close at N1.35
CORNERST: -7.06% to close at N1.58
