The year-to-date return of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited stretched to 43.20 per cent after a 1.48 per cent rise on Thursday.
Demand pressure on the consumer goods, banking and industrial goods stocks contributed to the surge recorded during the session.
Data showed that the consumer goods counter expanded by 4.67 per cent, the banking index rose by 1.53 per cent, and the industrial goods segment improved by 1.03 per cent. They offset the 0.91 per cent loss suffered by the insurance space and the 0.06 per cent cut posted by the energy industry.
When the closing gong was struck, the All-Share Index (ASI) of Customs Street increased by 3,251.48 points to 222,837.68 points from 219,586.20 points, and the market capitalisation moved up by N2.093 trillion to N143.477 trillion from N141.384 trillion.
The duo of Unilever Nigeria and UAC Nigeria led the advancers’ log after growing by 10.00 per cent each to sell for N121.00 and N133.10, respectively. Trans-Nationwide Express jumped 9.97 per cent to N8.71, Tantalizers appreciated by 9.80 per cent to N3.81, and Dangote Sugar expanded by 9.78 per cent to N73.50.
On the flip side, McNichols lost 9.93 per cent to close at N6.44, Multiverse depreciated by 9.85 per cent to N23.35, Coronation Insurance retreated by 9.26 per cent to N2.45, Abbey Mortgage Bank moderated by 9.24 per cent to N5.40, and Japaul slipped by 5.94 per cent to N3.01.
Business Post reports that there were 35 price gainers and 37 price losers during the session, representing a negative market breadth index and weak investor sentiment.
Access Holdings was the busiest equity for the day with 39.5 million units worth N1.3 billion, UBA traded 37.5 million units valued at N2.0 billion, Zenith Bank exchanged 36.3 million units for N4.8 billion, Fidelity Bank sold 32.1 million units valued at N700.8 million, and GTCO transacted 27.6 million units worth N3.6 billion.
At the close of transactions, investors bought and sold 667.9 million units valued at N38.1 billion in 53,062 deals compared with the 683.7 million units worth N36.2 billion traded in 51,694 deals at midweek.
This showed that the trading volume shrank by 2.28 per cent, and the trading value and number of deals soared by 5.25 per cent and 2.65 per cent apiece.