Equities trading maintained a negative stance at the close of trade on Friday.

Equities trading maintained a negative stance at the close of trade on Friday.

By Obi Chibueze, Abuja.

Transactions in the Nigerian equity market on Friday closed on a negative note as losing streak extends to the Fifth consecutive trading day, following sell-off on some high valued stocks.

The market capitalization of equities depreciated by One Hundred and Seventy Point Six Seven Naira, a reduction from Eighteen Point Zero Eight Trillion Naira at close of trading on Thursday to Seventeen Point Nine Two Trillion Naira on Friday as market sentiment remained in the negative territory.

The All Share Index also closed in the negative, declining to Thirty-Four Thousand, two Hundred and fifty-two Point seven four from Thirty-four Thousand, Five Hundred and Seventy-Two Point Two Six a Zero Point Nine Four Percent Fall.

The value of stocks traded also closed in the red, falling from six point six four billion naira to four point four seven billion, a thirty-two point seven four decrease.

However, the volume of stocks that exchanged hands increased to seven hundred ninety-six point zero seven from Five Hundred and Fifty-Three Point Nine Six Million, a forty-three point seven one percent rise.

ZENITH BANK and ACCESS BANK was the toast of investors among others.  ZENITH BANK sold Forty-Seven Point Seven Eight million shares worth One Point Zero Nine billion naira in Eight Hundred and Seventy-Four deals.

Also, ACCESS BANK transacted Three Hundred and Eighty-Six Point Zero Two-Million-naira worth of shares in a Three Hundred and Seventy-Six deals.

On the activity chart, there were Thirty-Eight gainers and Nine losers at the close of business, with FTN COCOA PROCESSING PLC leading the gainers on the chart.  its share price rose to forty-four kobo from Forty Kobo traded on Thursday, a Ten percent gain per share.  STERLING BANK followed with its share rising to One Naira Eighty-Eight Kobo from One Naira Seventy-One Kobo Traded Wednesday, a Nine Point Ninety-Four percent gain.

TODAY’S TOP GAINERS

On the other hand, DANGOTE CEMENT led the losers with Eight Point Zero Four Percent loss on its share price. This was a reduction from One Hundred and Ninety-Nine Naira traded on Thursday to One Hundred and Eighty-Three Naira.

TODAY’S TOP LOSERS