Transactions on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange on Friday closed lower, declining by N257 billion as investors sustained profit taking activities.

Market capitalisation of listed equities depreciated by 0.16 per cent to N156.623 trillion from N156.880 trillion reported the previous day.

The NGX All Share Index also went down by 398.18 basis points to 242619.20 points from 243017.38 points traded previously

The market breath was negative with 20 advancers against 30 decliners as year to date return lowered to 56.01 per cent

International General Insurance led gainers table with 9.92 per cent to close at N5.32 per unit, Transnational Corporation of Nigeria followed with a gain of 9.65 per cent to close at N2.84 per unit, Guinea Insurance added 6.67 per cent to close at N0.80 per unit, Regal Insurance added 6.25 per cent to close at N0.85 per unit. Japaul Gold increased by 4.29 per cent to close at N2.92 per unit.

FTGinsurance topped losers chart, dropping by 9.31 per cent to close at N2.63 per unit, Omatek trailed with a loss of 9.04 per cent to close at N1.51 per share, JohnHolt dipped by 9.00 per cent to close at N9.10 per unit, RTBriscoe declined by 7.94 per cent to close at N11.60 per unit, Dangote Sugar sheds 7.79 per cent to close at N64.55 per unit.

The volume of trades declined by 2.824 billion, representing 66.65 per cent as investors traded 1.413 billion shares against 4.237 billion reported the previous day. Value of shares traded down by 10.48 per cent to settle at N45.31 billion in 39134 deals.

Transactions in the shares of FTG Insurance led market activities with 874.083 million shares valued at N2.370 billion, Cornerstone Insurance followed with 99.689 million shares worth N503.440 million, Universal Insurance traded 56.589 million shares cost N44.348 million, MTN Nigeria Plc exchange 44.482 million shares cost N31.284 million, Sterling Bank traded 29.148 million shares valued at N218.337 million