By Odunewu Segun
Seplat, Oando, GTB led the losers table on Thursday at the end of trading activities with market capitalization dropping to N8.336 trillion from N8.633 trillion while the All-Share Index depreciated from 25,103 basis points to 24,239.98 basis points.
Seplat Petroleum Development Company shares closed at N176.96 from N196.07, shedding N19.11 (9.75%) while that of Oando depreciated by N0.45 (9.70%) to close at N4.19 from N4.64.
In the banking sector, GTB led with its shares falling to N14.81 from N16.39, losing N1.58 (9.64%) while FBN Holdings lost N0.38 (9.52%) to close at N3.61 from N3.99. FCMB shares also posted a loss of N0.12 (8.82%) to close at N1.24 from N1.36.
A total of 262.522 million shares worth N2.409bn were traded in 2,579 deals; of which 31 stocks fell in value while only five appreciated. The highest index point recorded in the course of trading was 27,028.39 while the lowest and average points were 24,239.98 and 25,751.31, respectively.
Appearing after the top-five losers were Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc, Unity Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc., Dangote Cement Plc, Diamond Bank Plc, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Nigerian Breweries Plc., PZ Cussons Plc, Eterna Plc, Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Nascon Allied Industries Plc, Access bank Plc, Cutix Plc, N.E.M. Insurance Company Nigeria Plc and Law Union and Rock Insurance Plc.
Other losers at the NSE were AIICO Insurance Plc, Skye Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Trans-nationwide Express Plc, United Capital Plc, Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc, Total Nigeria Plc, Africa Prudential Registrars Plc, Continental Reinsurance Plc, UACN Plc and UAC Properties Plc.
Fidelity Bank Plc, Ikeja Hotel Plc, Honeywell Flour Mill Plc, A.G Leventis Nigeria Plc and Custodian and Allied Plc were among the top gainers on the chart after the close of trading.