The equities section of the Nigerian Stock Exchange closed positive at the end of the trading activities on Friday, with major indicators recording marginal rise.
The market capitalisation of the listed equities gained 0.08 per cent or N7bn from N8.839tn on Thursday, to close on Friday, at N8.846tn.
Similarly, the NSE's All-Share Index rose by 22.02 basis points or 0.08 per cent to close at 27,685.54, up from 27,663.52 points recorded the previous day.
The NSE-30 index also rose to 1,324.51 basis points, up from 1,322.96 points the preceding day, while the consumer goods index closed at 877.24 basis points on Friday, from 871.31 points the previous day.
Analysts from FSDH Securities Limited noted in their report that the appreciation in the index at the end of the day's trading session could be attributed to the gains recorded in the share prices of a number of highly capitalised stocks including Guinness Nigeria Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Oando Plc Nigerian Breweries Plc and Cadbury Nigeria Plc.
However, the NSE Banking Index fell by 12.03 basis points or 3.6 per cent to 320.49 basis points, down from 332.52 points the previous day.
The banking sub-sector maintained its lead on the activity chart on Friday.
In the sub-sector, investors exchanged 71.675 million shares, valued at N716.82m in 1,568 deals. Trading in the subsector accounted for 31 per cent of total volume traded.
Turnover in the sub-sector was driven by large trading in the shares of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc and Diamond Bank Plc.
Oando Plc recorded the highest price appreciation of the day, as it gained 4.94 per cent or 66 kobo to close at N14.04 per share.
May and Baker Nigeria Plc also gained 4.6 per cent or seven kobo to close at N1.57 per share.
Transnational Incorporated Plc and Learn Africa Plc gained 4.6 per cent each to close at 91 kobo and N1.83 per share respectively, while RT Briscoe Plc and UTC Plc rose by 3.5 per cent each to close at N1.45 and 59 kobo per share in that order.
