The local equities market on Friday closed on a positive note, appreciating by N1.383 trillion as gains in mid-cap and capitalised stocks lifted trading activities during the day.

The gains recorded on Friday resulted in the market capitalisation of listed equities, appreciating by 0.90 per cent to N155.825 trillion from N154.442 trillion reported the previous day.

The NGX All Share Index increased by 2142.38 basis points to 241298.47 points from 239156.09 points traded on Thursday.

The positive performance was driven by positive performances recorded in the shares of GTCO; SeplatEnergy; Transcorp; FirstHoldco; Access Holdings Company; Zenith Bank, and other 27 companies. 

The market breadth was positive with 33 advancers against 19 decliners, bringing the-year-to date return to 55.06 per cent. 

An analysis of the investment showed that Seplat Energy led the gainers’ table, appreciating by 10 per cent to close at N12320.00 per unit; Trans hotel followed with a gain of 9.76 per cent to close at N265.50 per unit; Omatek added 9.49 per cent to close at N1.50 per unit; Daar Communications up by 9.42 per cent to close at N1.51 per share; UPL increased by 8.57 per cent to close at N5.70 per share.

On the contrary, Total and HMCall topped the losers’ chart, dropping by 10 per cent each to close at N576.00 and N3.74 per unit; Entranzact trailed with 8.78 per cent to close at N13.25 per unit; Austinlaz fell by 8.62 per cent to close at N2.50 per unit; Avacap depreciated by 7.14 per cent to close at N6.50 per unit.

Further analysis showed that the volume of trades went up by 105.215 million, representing 21.04 per cent as investors traded 605.170 million shares against 499.955 million shares recorded the previous day; the value of transactions declined by 15.01 per cent to settle at N29.87 billion.

Transactions in the shares of JaizBank led market activities with 210.681 million worth N1.583 billion; AccessCorp followed with account of 40.243 million shares cost N1.158 billion; Zenith Bank exchanged 39.364 million shares worth N4.726 billion; International General Insurance traded 34.060 million shares cost N90.113 million; Chams Plc sold 33.912 million shares cost N129.724 million.