Trading on the Nigerian Exchange closed slightly lower on Wednesday as profit-taking in selected equities continued to weigh on the market, dragging key performance indicators into negative territory.
Market data showed that the benchmark All-Share Index declined 0.09 per cent to close at 195,898.53 points compared with the previous session’s level, as investors booked profits in some large- and mid-cap stocks.
Consequently, market capitalisation shed N107.57bn to settle at N125.75tn. Despite the marginal decline, the market still maintained positive returns, with the month-to-date gain standing at 1.6 per cent, while the year-to-date return moderated to 25.89 per cent.
The downturn was largely driven by losses recorded in stocks such as Presco Plc and UAC of Nigeria Plc, both of which declined 10 per cent, alongside Dangote Cement Plc, which slipped 0.6 per cent.
Activity level on the exchange weakened as investors traded a total of 671.27 m shares valued at N26.13bn in 58,792 deals. This represents a decline of 8.61 per cent in volume, 5.18 per cent in value, and 9.31 per cent in the number of transactions compared with the previous trading session.
Wema Bank Plc emerged as the most actively traded stock by volume and value, accounting for 106.36 million shares worth N2.75bn.
Sectoral performance was mixed, with the Industrial Goods index leading the gainers after advancing 1.42 per cent, while the Banking index recorded a marginal gain of 0.04 per cent.
Conversely, the Commodities sector topped the laggards, declining 1.30 per cent. The Insurance index fell 0.44 per cent, and the Consumer Goods index dipped 0.43 per cent, while the Oil and Gas index edged down 0.06 per cent.
Market breadth closed negative, reflecting bearish investor sentiment, as 40 stocks recorded losses compared with 29 gainers, translating to a market breadth ratio of 0.7 times.
Among the top gainers were NGX Group Plc and Premier Paints Plc, which appreciated 10 per cent and 9.9 per cent, respectively. Other notable gainers included Omatek Ventures Plc, Prestige Assurance Plc, and HMC Allied Plc.
On the losers’ chart, Presco Plc and UAC of Nigeria Plc led the decline with 10 per cent losses each, followed by Morison Industries Plc, LivingTrust Mortgage Bank Plc, and SCOA Nigeria Plc.
