The equities market rebounded on Wednesday, reversing the previous session’s loss with a gain of N628 billion.
The gain was driven by renewed investors’ interest in blue-chip and medium-cap stocks.
Key gainers included Airtel Africa, Chemical and Allied Products Plc (CAP), Zichis Agro Allied Industries, RT Briscoe Plc and FTN Cocoa Processors Plc, alongside 43 other advancing equities.
Market capitalisation rose by N628 billion, or 0.40 per cent, to close at N155.780 trillion from N155.152 trillion recorded at the opening of trading.
Similarly, the All-Share Index (ASI) advanced by 979.36 points, or 0.40 per cent, to close at 242,729.51 against 241,750.15 posted on Tuesday
The market’s year-to-date return consequently increased to 55.98 per cent.
Market breadth also closed positive, with 48 gainers against 23 losers.
Airtel Africa led the gainers’ table with a 10 per cent increase to close at N3,323.40 per share.
CAP followed with a gain of 9.99 per cent to close at N193.20, while Zichis Agro Allied Industries appreciated by 9.97 per cent to settle at N27.58 per share.
Also, RT Briscoe rose by 9.95 per cent to close at N14.15, while FTN Cocoa Processors gained 9.92 per cent to end the session at N7.31 per share.
On the losers’ chart, Sunu Assurances Nigeria Plc declined by 10 per cent to close at N4.05 per share.
Guinness Nigeria Plc shed 9.99 per cent to close at N402.60, while Caverton Offshore Support Group Plc dropped by 8.33 per cent to settle at N5.50 per share.
Fortis Global Insurance Plc lost 7.69 per cent to close at N1.08, while May and Baker Nigeria Plc fell by 6.82 per cent to end at N41 per share.
Trading activity improved at the close of the session, with total volume traded rising by 11.57 per cent to 1.41 billion shares valued at N59.43 billion across 85,804 transactions.
Meanwhile, Computer Warehouse Group Plc (CWG) emerged as the most traded stock by volume and value, with 421.70 million shares exchanged at N8.85 per share.
The transactions accounted for 29.80 per cent and 14.90 per cent of the market’s total trading volume and value, respectively.
