The benchmark index inched up 0.20 per cent to 32,907.33 points, with all sessions of the week posting gains, save for a Dangote Cement-led loss of 2.37 per cent posted mid-week.
Month-to-Date return remained in positive territory, at 0.43 per cent, while the Year-to-Date loss moderated to 13.95 per cent.
The Oil & Gas index led other major sectoral indices in gains, followed by the Banking and Insurance indices, while the Consumer Goods and Industrial Goods indices posted losses. Market breadth was negative, with 39 losers and 26 gainers, led by WAPCO and Diamond Bank, respectively
A total turnover of 1.454 billion shares worth N15.263 billion in 16,682 deals were traded by investors on the floor of the Exchange during the week under review in contrast to a total of 1.380 billion shares valued at N15.149 billion that exchanged hands last week in 14,033 deals.
The Financial Services Industry, measured by volume, led the activity chart with 1.220 billion shares valued at N9.480 billion traded in 10,520 deals; thus contributing 83.94 per cent and 62.11 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.
The Conglomorates Industry followed with 92.190 million shares worth N452.948 million in 719 deals.The third place was Consumer Goods Industry with a turnover of 76.567 million shares worth N3.712 billion in 2,471 deals.
First City Monument Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc and Sterling Bank Plc stocks were the toast of investors as they accounted for 695.396 million shares worth N2.000 billion in 3,494 deals, contributing 47.83 per cent and 13.10 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.
Analysts at Cordros however noted that despite recent gains, they remained conservative in their outlook for equities in the short to medium term, amidst brewing political concerns, and the absence of a positive trigger. “However, stable macroeconomic fundamentals remain supportive of recovery in the long term,” they said.
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