The Nigerian equities market opened the week on a positive note on Monday, as the first trading session of May closed with a gain of ₦62 billion.
The uptrend was driven by renewed buying interest in energy, consumer goods, and industrial stocks.
Stocks such as FTN Cocoa Processors, Consolidated Hallmark, CAP, AIICO Insurance, and Dangote Sugar, alongside 38 other gainers, lifted the market.
Market capitalisation rose by ₦62 billion, representing a 0.36 per cent increase from ₦155.994 trillion to ₦156.056 trillion.
Similarly, the All-Share Index advanced by 881.16 points, or 0.36 per cent, closing at 243,158.97 from 242,277.81 in the previous session.
Consequently, the Year-to-Date (YTD) return improved to 56.26 per cent. Market breadth remained positive with 43 gainers against 34 losers.
FTN Cocoa Processors and Consolidated Hallmark led the gainers’ chart with 10 per cent each, closing at ₦6.05 and ₦5.72 per share respectively. CAP followed with a 9.99 per cent gain at ₦159.70, while AIICO Insurance and Dangote Sugar rose by 9.98 per cent and 9.97 per cent, closing at ₦4.74 and ₦76.65 respectively.
On the downside, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company led the losers with a 23 per cent decline, closing at ₦198.65. International Energy Insurance, UPDC, Learn Africa, and Nem Insurance also posted significant losses.
Market activity declined as total traded volume dropped by 48.30 per cent to 967.47 million shares, valued at ₦43.84 billion in 122,041 deals.
VFD Group led in volume with 255.35 million shares, while Zenith Bank recorded the highest transaction value at ₦8.42 billion.
