THE market capitalisation of the Nigerian Stock Exchange hit N10 trillion mark yesterday, occasioned by heavy price gains recorded by major blue-chip stocks, especially Unity Bank and Julius Berger.
At the close of transactions yesterday, the market capitalisation of the NSE rose by N148 billion from N9,910 trillion recorded on tuesday to N10,058 trillion while the All-Share Index went up by 462.39 points or 1.4 per cent from 30,983.83 to 31,446.22.
Significantly, Unity Bank emerged the day’s highest price gainer with 10 per cent to close at N0.66 per share, followed by Julius Berger, adding 9.98 per cent to close at N46.84 per share.
Presco added 8.05 per cent to close at N25.50 per share, UACN gained 5.82 per cent to close at N50.00 per share.
AIICO, Cement Company of Northern Nigeria, BOC Gases gained 5.33,4.97 and 4.97 per cent to close at N0.79, N9.29 and N6.55 per share.
FO gained 4.95 per cent to close at N13.14 per share while Eternaoil and Honeywell Flourmills garnered 4.95 and 4.80 per cent to close at N3.82 and N2.84 per share.
However, Oando topped the losers chart with 9.83 per cent to close at N14.40 per share while Airservice followed with 6.78 per cent to close at N5.50 per share.
TransNational Corporation dropped 5.45 per cent to close at N1.04 per share. UPL, Vitafoam, JohnHolt lost 5.00,4.88 and 4.83 per cent to close at N4.56,N3.90 and N1.97 per share.
Continental Reinsurance shed 4.44 per cent to close at N0.86 per share while Neimeth dropped 3.92 per cent to close at N0.98 per share.
NPF Micro finance Bank lost 3.88 per cent to close at N0.99 per share . Diamond Bank also shed 3.75 per cent to close at N6.16 per share.
On the activity chart, the banking sub-sector remains the most active stock in volume terms with 371 million shares worth N1.2 billion followed by the insurance sub-sector with 96 million units valued at N62 million.
The foodproducts sub-sector trailed with 29 million un its valued at N164 million.
Transactions in the shares of Unity Bank boosted activities in the banking sub-sector with 233 million shares worth N150 million followed by Sterling Bank with 21 million units worth N57 million.
The insurance subsector was buoyed by activities in the shares of Lasaco Assurance and NEM Insurannce with 49 million shares and 18 million units valued at N24 million and N13 million.
In all, investors exchanged 797 million shares worth N5.1 billion in 6,974 deals.