NSE opens February with 0.13% loss

The nation’s bourse resumed trading on Monday on a negative trend dropping by 0.13 per cent due to profit-taking in Nestle and 27 other stocks.

Specifically, the All-Share Index lost 54.76 points or 0.13 per cent to close at 42,357.90 in contrast with 42,412.66 on Friday.

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Accordingly, the month-to-date return settled at -0.1 per cent, while the year-to-date gain moderated to 5.2 per cent.

Also, the market capitalisation declined by N29 billion or 0.13 per cent to close at N22.157 trillion when compared with N22. 186 trillion posted on Friday.

The downturn was impacted by losses recorded in medium and large capitalised stocks, amongst which are; Nestle Nigeria, Julius Berger, Flour Mills of Nigeria, Vitafoam and Access Bank.

Royal Exchange led the losers’ chart in percentage terms, losing 10 per cent to close at 36k per share.

It was trailed by Guinea Insurance followed 9.09 per cent to close at 20k, while African Alliance Insurance shed eight per cent to close at 23k per share.

Julius Berger dipped 7.28 per cent to close at N21, while Multiverse shed 4.55 per cent to close at 21k per share.

Conversely, Honeywell Flour Mill dominated the gainers’ chart in percentage terms gaining 10 per cent to close at N1.43 per share.