The stock market closed higher, marginally, on Wednesday – a day after stocks recorded broad declines.
According to the NSE, the most traded stocks were those of Access Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, FBN Holdings Plc, UBA Capital Plc and FTN Cocoa Processing Company Plc.
Access Bank Plc gained 4.35 per cent to close at N9.60 per share, keeping it in the top gainers table.
Ikeja Hotel Plc was the top gainer, rising by 7.83 per cent or nine kobo to close at N1.24 per share, followed by Premier Breweries Plc which gained 4.89 per cent to close at N3.65.
The market capitalisation of the listed equities edged up by 0.04 per cent or N6bn to close at N13.500tn as against the 0.84 per cent or N115bn drop it recorded on Tuesday to close at N13.494tn.
Similarly, the Nigerian Stock Exchange All Share Index fell by 0.04 per cent to close at 40,885.40 basis points, compared to the 0.84 per cent or 346.79 basis points rise that dragged it down to 40,868.02 basis points the previous day.
The NSE 30 Index, which measures the performance of the 30 most capitalised companies on the Exchange, also rose on Wednesday, gaining 1.19 basis points or 0.6 per cent to close at 1,863.86 basis points.
As for the sectoral indices, the NSE Banking Index rose by 0.50 per cent to close at 431.98, posting the day’s best performance.
The worst hit of the indices was the NSE Oil and Gas Index, which shed 0.27 per cent to close at 461.09 basis points.
A total of 20 stocks recorded price appreciation on Wednesday, while 24 equities recorded price depreciation.
Costain (West Africa) Plc led the losers after it shed 6.80 per cent or seven kobo to close at 96 kobo per share.
It was followed by RT Briscoe Plc, which declined by five per cent or five kobo to close at 95 kobo per share.
Morrison Industries Plc fell by 4.71 per cent or nine kobo to close at N1.82 per share, while Neimeth International Pharmaceutical Plc shed 4.55 per cent or five kobo to close at N1.05 per share.
