WorldStage Newsonline-- The Nigerian Stock Exchange recorded a turnover of 1.74 billion shares worth N15.108 billion in 19,754 deals this week, in contrast to a total of 1.848 billion shares valued at N13.863 billion exchanged last week in 20,435 deals, while 250 units of FG8B2014S1 valued at N237, 095.49 million were exchanged in one deal.

According to a statement from NSE, at the close of trading activities for the week, the Financial Services sector of the equities market was the most active (measured by turnover volume) with 1.300 billion shares valued at N8.881 billion traded in 11,347 deals. This was followed by Conglomerates Sector with 197.476 million shares valued at N505.041 million traded in 767 deals.

Also, the Banking subsector of the Financial Services sector was the most active during the week (measured by turnover volume) with 974.597 million shares worth N8.688 billion exchanged by investors in 10,952 deals. The volume in the sector was driven by Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, UBA Plc and First Bank of Nigeria Plc. Trading in the shares of the three banks accounted for 497.948 million shares, representing 51.09%, 38.30% and 28.62% of the turnover recorded by the sector, subsector and total equities turnover for the week, respectively.

Also traded during the week were 1,600 units of NewGold Exchange Traded Products (ETFs) valued at N4.048 million exchanged in 10 deals

On price movement, the NSE All-Share Index (ASI) opened at 22,381.11 depreciating by -148.75 points or -0.66% to close on Friday at 22,232.36. Three of the NSE sectorial indices closed downwards. The NSE 30 index depreciated by -2.84 points (or -0.28%) and NSE Consumer Goods Index depreciated by -31.61 points (or -1.75%), while The NSE Oil/Gas Index depreciated by -4.74 points or -2.41%. However, the NSE Banking Index appreciated by 0.72 points or 0.13% while the NSE Insurance Index appreciated by 0.17 points or 0.13% .

Also the equities Market Capitalization also depreciated from N7.137 trillion to N 7.090 trillion.

Note that the points and percentage changes in the NSE Indices were calculated by computing the daily changes in the index values.

Fourteen equities appreciated in prices during the week, lower than the 23 of the preceding week. Julius Berger Nigeria Plc led on the gainers’ table by 9.47% to close at N34.00 per share followed by First Bank of Nigeria Plc by 8.56% gain to close at N11.41 per share.

Thirty five stocks depreciated in prices similar to 35 of the preceding week. Guinness Nigeria Plc led on the price losers’ table, dropping by -4.69% to close N223.99 per share while Total Nigeria Plc followed with a loss of N6.94 or -4.99 % to close at N132.01 per share.