Demand for Zenith Bank, GTCO, Others Lift Stock Market by N412bn

Kayode Tokede

The stock market yesterday opened the week positive note, gaining N412billion on investors’ strong demand for Zenith Bank Plc, and Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO), BUA Foods and 36 other stocks on the floor of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX).

As Zenith Bank gained 7.85 per cent to close at N37.10 per share, GTCO appreciated by 6.58 per cent to N40.50 per share and BUA Foods rose by 2.56 per cent to N180 per share, the NGX All-Share Index (ASI) gained 751.95 basis or 1.11 per cent to close at 68,279.14 points basis.

Also, market capitalisation rose by N412 billion to close at N37.370 trillion.

Sectoral performance was positive yesterday as the NGX Banking rose by 5.95 per cent and NGX Consumer Goods increased by 1.58 per cent, while the NGX Industrial dropped by 0.14per cent.

Market breadth closed positive as 39 stocks gained relative to 19 decliners.

DAAR Communications, Dangote Cement, MRS Oil Nigeria, Dangote Sugar Refinery emerged the highest price gainer of 10 per cent to close at N66.55, per share. NASCON Allied Industries followed with a gain of 9.98 per cent to close at N61.15, while John Holt advanced by 9.92 per cent to close at N1.44, per share.

Oando appreciated by 9.91 per cent to close at N6.10, while LASACO Assurance up by 9.60 per cent to close at N2.17, per share. On the other side, Consolidated Hallmark Insurance led others on the losers’ chart with 9.57 per cent to close at N1.04, per share. Cornerstone Insurance followed with a decline of 9.29 per cent to close at N1.27, while SUNU Assurance shed 9.09 per cent to close at 80 kobo, per share.

UPDC Real Estate Investment Trust lost 8.22 per cent to close at N3.35, while Nigerian Exchange Group depreciated by 7.20 per cent to close at N24.50, per share.

The total volume of trades increased by 67.88 per cent to 845.681 million units, valued at N13.040 billion, and exchanged in 11,934 deals. Transactions in the shares of Regency Alliance Insurance led the activity with 100.984 million shares worth N40.392 million. Fidelity Bank followed with account of 85.144 million shares valued at N695.028 million, while Zenith Bank traded 75.411 million shares valued at N2.798 billion.

United Bank for Africa (UBA) traded 60.215 million shares worth N930.201 million, while Transnational Corporation (Transcorp) traded 56.814 million shares worth N407.419 million.

This week, analysts at United Capital Plc said “we expect to continue seeing the bulls dominate the local bourse. Investors will continue cherry-picking activities around fundamentally sound stocks with potential upsides, as recent corporate disclosures indicate.

“In addition, we envisage investors to begin to take positions in the market in anticipation of the earnings release of Tier-one banks in the coming weeks. Furthermore, our expectation of a low-rate fixed-income environment within the week would further catalyse the bull run.”