Equities closed on a negative note on Thursday as the market capitalisation of the listed equities fell by N16bn or 0.12 per cent to close at N12.517tn, down from Wednesday’s close of N12.533tn.
Also, the Nigerian Stock Exchange All-Share Index fell by 48.4 basis points or 0.12 per cent from 39,017.66 to close at 38,969.26 basis points.
The NSE Insurance Index recorded the best performance among sectoral indices on Thursday after it rose by 1.04 per cent to close at 137.80 basis points.
The NSE Banking Index, on the other hand recorded the worst performance with a 0.79 per cent loss to close at 387.49 basis points.
The banking subsector led the activity chart, accounting for 60.44 per cent of total turnover traded.
In the subsector, 155.299 million shares valued at N1.779bn were traded in 1,583 deals.
Volume in the subsector was driven by trading in the shares of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated Plc, Zenith International Bank Plc and Skye Bank Plc.
Diamond Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and Sterling Bank Plc also recorded high volume turnover in the subsector.
A total of 24 stocks recorded gains on Thursday, while 26 made losses.
Forte Oil Plc led the gainers, rising by 10.24 per cent or N11.40 to close at N122.70; followed by Prestige Assurance Company Plc, which gained five per cent or three kobo to close at 63 kobo per share.
Cement Company of Northern Nigeria Plc, Cap Plc and Mansard Insurance Plc rose by 4.98 per cent each to close at N9.48, N37.75 and N2.32 per share, respectively.
University Press Plc, however, led the losers, shedding 7.56 or 30 kobo to close at N3.67 per share.
Oando Plc fell by 4.98 per cent or 84 kobo to close at N16.04 per share, while Vitafoam Plc was down by 4.95 per cent or 21 kobo to close at N4.03 per share.
