The nation’s equities market on Friday remained on a negative trajectory, declining by N444 billion.

The market capitalisation of listed equities fell by 0.29 per cent to N154.533 trillion from N154.977 trillion it closed on Thursday.

The NGX All Share Index also depreciated by 686.64 basis points to 139351.16 points from 240037.80 points reported the previous day. 

The downturn in the market for the day was supported by losses in the shares of Aradel Plc, UBA, Access Holdings, Nestle, and 22 other companies.

The market breadth was negative with 22 advancers and 26 losers, bringing year to date return lower to 54.36 per cent 

A review of trading during the day showed that RTBriscoe led the gainers’ table with 9.63 per cent to close at N11.95 per unit; FTG Insurance followed with a gain of 8.11 per cent to close at N2.00 per unit; TransExpress added 7.84 per cent to close at N3.30 per unit; Meyer Paint added 5.98 per cent to close at N15.95 per unit; Aradel Plc added 5.71 per cent to close at N1374.20 per unit.

On the contrary, International General Insurance topped the losers’ chart with 10 per cent to close at N3.87 per unit; Omatek trailed with 9.55 per cent to close at N1.42 per share; Mcnichols down by 6.73 per cent to close at N4.85 per unit; UPDC dipped by 5.63 per cent to close at N3.35 per share; Wapic Insurance depreciated by 5.45 per cent to close at N2.08 per unit; the volume of transactions declined by 2.872 billion, representing 85.49 per cent as investors traded 416.670 million shares against 2.872 billion in 36324 deal.

Further analysis indicated transactions in the shares of NGX group led market activities with 36.652 million shares valued at N4.542 billion; Sterling Bank traded 32.753 million shares worth N243.916 million; FirstHoldco traded 32.425 million shares cost N4.201 billion; Access Holdings company traded 22.900 million shares valued N616.749 million, and United Bank for Africa exchanged 19.674 million shares valued at N885.547 million.