INVESTORS, on Monday, heaved a sigh of relief as the equities market began the week on a plausible note, resulting in the measurement parameters to close by 0.34 per cent higher.
It will be recalled that the bears took hold of the market last Wednesday and Thursday, sending jitters down the spine of both local and foreign investors on the direction in the New Year.
The result on Monday was largely driven by active trade in the shares of Lafarge Wapco Cement and Chemical Allied Product Plc, leading to increase in the market capitalisation from N9.339 trillion recorded on Friday to N9.373 trillion.
The all-share index also rose by107.69 basis points to close at 29,309.70 points from 29,202.01 points.
In all, 39 stocks recorded price appreciation in the day, as against 17 companies which emerged losers.
Lafarge Wapco cement Plc led that gainers’ pack with N1.65 increase to close at N60.00 per share.
CAP Nigeria Plc followed with N1.45 increase to close at N30.45 per share, while GlaxoSmithkline ranked third with N1.43 gain to close at N46.33 per share.
On the other hand, Unilever Nigeria Plc led the losers, dropping by N1.40 to close at N45.00 per share.
Nigeria Breweries lost N1.29 to close at N149.12; Ecobank Transnational Incorporation went down by N0.20 to close at N11.60; John Holt shed N0.14 to close at N2.78, while Dangote Sugar fell by N0.10 to close at N6.80 per share.
