Investors in the Nigerian equities market gained N56 billion at the close of trading on Monday.

This followed a surge in the share prices of stocks such as NASCON, FTN Cocoa and CONHALL, among others, on the trading floor.

The benchmark All-Share Index (ASI) increased to 243,161.52 points from the 242,277.81 points recorded on the previous trading day.

After five hours of trading on the capital market, equity capitalisation surged to N156 trillion from N155.9 trillion posted by the bourse on Thursday.

The market breadth was flat, with 40 stocks advancing, 40 declining, and 68 remaining unchanged in 122,041 deals.

A total of 967,467,651 shares were traded, valued at N43.8 billion.

NASCON, FTN Cocoa and CONHALL led the gainers’ chart, with 10% growth each in share prices, respectively, to close at N210.00, N6.05 and N5.72 per share, up from N178.30, N5.50, and N5.20 per share.

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NAHCO, Intenegins and UPDC led other price decliners, with declines of 22.87%, 9.82%, and 9.18%, respectively, to close at N199.00, N2.48, and N4.45 per share, down from N258.00, N2.75, and N4.90 per share, respectively.

On the volume index, Access Holding led trading with 182 million shares in 5, 493 deals, followed by AIICO which traded 58 million shares in 1, 430 deals.

Fidelity Bank traded 57 million shares in 1,407 deals.

On the value index, Zenith Bank traded stocks valued at N6.3 billion in 7,421 deals, followed by Access Holding, which traded equities worth N4.7 billion in 5, 493 deals.

Aradel traded shares valued at N4.2 billion in 5,336 deals.

By: Babajide Okeowo