The equities market extended its losing streak on Thursday, as investors lost N878 billion amid sustained sell-offs across key oil and gas, banking, industrial and consumer goods stocks.
The market capitalisation declined by 0.61 per cent, falling from N144.824 trillion to N143.946 trillion.
The All-Share Index also dropped from 225,690.07 to 224,321.97, representing a decline of 1,368.10 points, or 0.61 per cent.
This led to the market’s Year-to-Date (YTD) return weakening further to 44.15 per cent while the market breadth closed negatively, recording 36 losers against 12 gainers.
Guinea Insurance led the losers’ table by 10 per cent, settling at 90k, Critical Minerals Financing Corp trailed by 9.87 per cent, finishing at N3.56 while Fortis Global Insurance also dipped by 9.85 per cent, closing at N3.57 per share.
International Energy Insurance shed by 9.84 per cent, ending the session at N5.22 and Mc Nicholas dropped by 9.80 per cent, closing at N6.90 per share.
Conversely, Learn Africa and Austinlaz led the gainers’ table by 10 per cent each, finishing at N9.90 and N3.63 per share respectively.
Also, Daar Communications grew by 9.49 per cent, settling at N1.50, UPDC added by 9.09 per cent, ending the session at N3.60 while Caverton Offshore Support Group increased by 8.51 per cent, closing at N5.10 per share.
Meanwhile, market activity improved significantly on Thursday as trading volume increased by 75.25 per cent to 855.40 million shares valued at N28.42 billion in 51,609 deals.
Sterling Financial Holdings Company Plc emerged as the most actively traded stock by volume, with 459.59 million shares exchanged, accounting for 53.73 per cent of the day’s total volume.
Aradel Holdings led the market by value, recording transactions worth N4.51 billion, representing 15.90 per cent of the total value traded during the session.
