Investors gained N150bn at the close of trading on the Nigerian Exchange Limited last week as stocks pared their losses.

The NGX All-Share Index and market capitalisation appreciated by 0.72 per cent to close the week at 39,481.89 basis points and N20.58tn respectively.

All other indices finished higher with the exception of NGX Sovereign Bond Index, which depreciated by 10.69 per cent, while the NGX ASeM and NGX Growth Indices closed flat.

It was a brief trading week as the Federal Government declared Wednesday and Thursday as public holidays to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan and commemorate the Eid al-Fitr celebrations.

A total turnover of 840.33 million shares worth N9.56bn in 13,239 deals were traded last week by investors on the floor of the Exchange, compared to1.42 billion shares valued at N15.92bn that exchanged hands in 18,459 deals the previous week.

The financial services industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 541.02 million shares valued at N5.49bn traded in 7,824 deals, thus contributing 64.38 per cent and 57.45 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

The ICT industry followed with 90.38 million shares worth N571.64m in 500 deals, while the third place was occupied by the conglomerates industry, with a turnover of 84.79 million shares worth N512.78m in 551 deals.

Trading in the top three equities, namely Access Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc and Etranzact International Plc (measured by volume), accounted for 284.92 million shares worth N3.47bn in 2,533 deals, contributing 33.91 per cent and 36.29 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

Thirty-three equities appreciated in price last week, compared to 31 in the previous week; 19) equities depreciated, compared to 37 in the previous week, while 108 equities remained unchanged as against 92 in the previous week.

A total of 151,345 units of bonds valued at N157.94m were traded last week in 75 deals, compared to 19,573 units valued at N21.03m transacted in eight deals the previous week.

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A total of 14,477 units of exchange-traded products valued at N258,795.90 were traded last week in four deals, compared with 30,004 units valued at N1.70m transacted in 11 deals a week.

Cordros Capital Limited, in its weekly report, said despite the shortened trading week, the bulls regained control of the market following a flawless victory over the bears in the three trading sessions of the week.

“We observed that buying interests were largely concentrated in banking stocks,” it said.

On what to expect this week, Cordros Capital said, “We do not think the bulls will repeat the flawless victory that ensued this week as the bears are likely to book profit across most counters. Consequently, we see more of a ‘choppy theme’ as cautious trading takes centre stage ahead of a critical MPC meeting scheduled later in the month.

“Notwithstanding, we advise investors to take positions in only fundamentally justified stocks as the weak macro story remains a significant headwind for corporate earnings.”