Lagos — Transaction on the equity sector of the Nigerian Stock Exchange continued in an upward trend when the market opened for the week, yesterday.

Gains by some highly capitalised stocks made market indices to appreciate marginally by 0.04 per cent.At close of trading, the few price gains recorded by some companies were enough to push market indices as 33 stocks appreciated in price, while 34 constituted the losers' chart.

Precisely, market capitalisation rose by N2 billion or 0.04 per cent from N5.084 trillion recorded on Friday to N5.086 trillion, while the All-share index increased by 7.42 per cent or 0.03 per cent, from 21,374.41 to 21,381.83.

Benue Cement Company Plc. emerged the highest price gainers, adding 130 kobo, to close at N43.40k per share, while UAC-Properties followed, adding 100k to close at N21.00k per share. West African Portland Company Plc., Access Bank Plc., RT Briscoe Plc., Vitafoam Plc., added 50 kobo, 36 kobo, 30 kobo and 23 kobo, to close at N29.50k, N7.67k, N6.70k and N4.70k per share respectively.

First Bank of Nigeria Plc., First City Monument Bank Plc., Fidelity Bank Plc., C&I leasing Plc., RedStar Express Plc. and Diamond Bank Plc. also gained 22 k, 16 k, 12 k, 12 k, 11 k and 10 k, to close at N15, N7.36k, N2.64k, N2.55k, N2.51k and N7.50k.

However, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc. led others on the losers' table with 144 kobo, to close at N27.46k per share, followed by Cadbury Nigeria Plc. with 64 kobo, to close at N12.23k per share.

Other losers in yesterday's transactions includes UACN Plc., African Petroleum Plc., United Bank for Africa Plc., Incar Nigeria Plc., UBN Plc., Guaranty Trust Bank and UPL Plc., shedding 50 kobo, 49 kobo, 46 kobo, 41 kobo, 31 kobo, 29 kobo and 23 kobo, to close at N39, N33.51k, N11.99k, N7.92k, N5.93k, N15.10k and N4.78k per share respectively.

Dangote Flourmill Plc., Afribank, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated Plc., Intercontinental Bank Plc. and Staco Insurance Plc. also featured with 11 kobo, 10 kobo, 10 kobo, 9 kobo and 7 kobo, to close at N7.40k, N2.9k, N14.5k, N2.6k and N1.37k per share.

With transaction done in 3,569 deals, the banking sub-sector maintained its dominance in volume terms with 173.6 million shares, worth N1.4 billion, while insurance sub-sector followed with 55.2 million units worth N43.2 million in 473 deals. The Food/Beverage & Tobacco sub-sector featured with 9.3 million with N104.6 in 416 deals. First Bank of Nigeria Plc. dominated in volume terms with 35.6 million shares worth N533.4 million in 981 deals, while Fidelity Bank Plc. followed with 23.3 million units, worth N60.3 million in 186 deals.

Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc. buoyed transactions in the insurance sub-sector with 27.9 million shares, worth N17.8 million in 64 deals, followed by AIICO Insurance Plc. with 5.8 million units, worth N4.8 million in 80 deals.

In all, 279.9 million shares, worth N2.1 billion was exchanged in 6,456 deals by investors.