The Nigerian equities market closed the year on a strong footing on Wednesday, extending its consecutive gains and adding N533bn to investors’ wealth.

The positive performance was driven by Aluminium Extrusion Industries, Austinlaz, Meyer, Cileasing, Union Dicon Salt and 42 other advancing stocks.

Specifically, the market capitalisation, which opened at N98.376tn, gained N533bn to close at N98.843tn.

The All-Share Index also rose by 0.37 per cent, or 578.31 points, to settle at 155,613.03, compared with 155,034.72 recorded on Tuesday.

While the year-to-date return closed at 51.19 per cent, market breadth ended positive, with 47 gainers and 16 losers.

Aluminium Extrusion Industries led the gainers’ chart with a 9.90 per cent increase to close at N21.65. Austinlaz followed with a 9.82 per cent rise to N4.25, while Meyer gained 9.75 per cent to end the session at N12.95 per share.

Also, Cileasing climbed by 9.60 per cent to close at N6.85, while Union Dicon Salt rose by 9.52 per cent to settle at N6.90 per share.

On the losers’ chart, Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals declined by 9.38 per cent to N5.80. Tantalizers followed with a 6.72 per cent drop to N2.50, while International Breweries shed 4.44 per cent to close at N14 per share.

NPF Microfinance Bank fell by 3.13 per cent to N3.71, while Vitafoam dipped by 3.06 per cent to end the session at N92 per share.

Meanwhile, Chams led the activity chart with 710.28 million shares traded, while Aradel recorded the highest value of transactions at N9.52bn.