The market indices of the nation’s bourse opened trading for the week on Monday with a loss of 0.12 per cent, following sell pressure in Lafarge Africa and PZ Cussons.
Specifically, the market capitalisation which opened at N20.571 trillion, lost N25 billion or 0.12 per cent to close at N20.546 trillion.
Also, the All-Share Index lost 48.39 points or 0.12 per cent to close at 39,434.69, from 39,483.08 recorded on Friday.
Accordingly, month-to-date and year-to-date return, settled at +2.3 per cent and -2.1 per cent, respectively.
The negative performance was buoyed by investors’ sell-off sentiment in all the major market sectors, excluding the insurance sector.
The market negative performance was driven by price depreciation in large and medium capitalised stocks amongst which were; Lafarge Africa, PZ Cussons Nigeria, Union Bank of Nigeria, Guaranty Trust Bank Holding Company and Eterna.
However, the market breadth closed positive with 21 gainers as against 11 losers.
FTN Cocoa Processors led the gainers’ chart in percentage terms with 10 per cent, to close at 44k per share.
Pharma Deko followed with 9.88 per cent to close at N1.89, while Transcorp Hotels went up by 9.69 per cent to close at N4.30 per share.
9Naija 