The financial services sector has continued its dominance of trading activities in the equity market as it cornered 71.82 per cent of stocks traded (in terms of quantity) on the Nigerian Exchange Limited in the past week. This pattern had been sustained in the since last month.

The Financial Services Industry led the NGX activity chart with 1.578 billion shares valued at N15.652bn traded in 14,851 deals; thus contributing 71.82 per cent and 34.05 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

The Oil and Gas Industry followed with 157.221 million shares worth N1.304bn in 3,549 deals. The third place was the Consumer Goods Industry, with a turnover of 101.562 million shares worth N1.939bn in 3,944 deals.

The top three equities with high volumes of trades were United Bank for Africa Plc, FCMB Group Plc and NPF Microfinance Bank Plc which accounted for 696.244 million shares worth N4.019bn in 2,398 deals, contributing 31.70 per cent and 8.74 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

The NGX All-Share Index and Market Capitalisation appreciated by 0.20 per cent to close the week at 55,930.97 and N30.455tn.

Similarly, all other indices finished higher with the exception of NGX Premium, NGX AFR Div. Yield, NGX Lotus II, NGX Industrial Goods, NGX Growth and NGX Sovereign Bond depreciated by 0.75 per cent, 0.06 per cent, 0.08 per cent, 1.31 per cent, 0.51 per cent, and 1.50 per cent respectively while the NGX ASeM index closed flat.

In the past week, the NGX saw a total turnover of 2.196 billion shares worth N45.971bin in 31,655 deals, a depreciation when compared to a total of 2.586 billion shares valued at N46.643bn that exchanged hands last week in 35,122 deals.

While investors’ sentiments remained mostly positive, 52 equities appreciated in price during the week lower than 66 equities in the previous week. Twenty-seven equities depreciated in price higher than 23 in the previous week, while 77 equities remained unchanged, higher than 67 recorded in the previous week.

Leading the gainers’ table for the week was Eterna Plc whose share value moved up by 45.41 per cent to close trading at N13.45. Unity Bank followed with 44 per cent appreciation in its share price to close at N0.72, FTN Cocoa Processors Plc gained 40.91 per cent at the end of the week to close at N0.93, Secure Electronic Technology Plc gained 38.46 per cent to close at N0.36 and Cornerstone Insurance Plc gained 37.35 per cent to close at N1.14.

On the losers’ table were John Holt, which lost 26.70 per cent to close at N1.40, RT Briscoe Plc lost 10.53 per cent in its share value to close at N0.34, Sunu Assurances Plc lost 10.42 per cent to close at N0.43, Courteville Plc lost 9.80 per cent to close at N0.46 and Multiverse mining and exploration Plc lost 9.54 per cent to close at N3.70.