Trading on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), resumed after the Christmas holidays on a bullish note, Monday, as the value of listed equities appreciated by N18.74 billion.

In particular, equities' value, represented by the market capitalisation, rose by 0.38 per cent to close at N4.936 trillion from N4.917 trillion at which it opened, while another market indicator, the All-share index garnered 78.23 basis points to close at 20,607.05 points from 20,528.82 points at which it opened.

Nigerian Breweries Plc recorded the most share price gain, rising by N2.45 to close at N52.45 per share, Lafarge Cement WAPCO Plc followed with a gain of N1.44 to close at N30.24 per share and Nigerian Bottling Company Plc garnered N0.97 to close at N20.40 per share.

Other share price gainers include: Zenith Bank Plc N0.61, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated N0.30, Dangote Flour Mills Plc N0.28, University Press Plc N0.23, Costain (West Africa) Plc N0.19, Afribank Nigeria Plc N0.10, Red Star Express Plc N0.10 among others.

Total Nigeria Plc, on the other hand, recorded the most share price loss, dropping by N2.60 to close at N149.00 per share, Eterna Oil and Gas Plc followed with a loss of N0.28 to close at N5.51 per share and Skye Bank Plc dipped by N0.28 to close at N5.47 per share.

Other share price losers include: Poly Products Plc N0.24, United Bank for Africa Plc N0.23, National Sports Lottery Plc N0.22, Union Bank Nigeria Plc N0.22, GTBank Plc N0.21, May & Baker Nigeria Plc N0.20, Access Bank Plc N0.19 among others.

Equity trading dropped by 35.89 per cent, as a turnover of 341.33 million shares valued at N1.57 billion was recorded in 3,865 deals, in contrast to last Wednesday's turnover of 532.38 million shares valued at N5.16 billion in 4,802 deals.

The Insurance sub-sector dominated the other sub-sectors, accounting for 60.98 per cent of the market turnover, 208.15 million shares valued at N109.25 million in 252 deals. Trading in the sub-sector was buoyed by activity in the shares of Lasaco Assurance Plc, with the exchange of 196.91 million shares valued at N98.45 million in 11 deals, followed by Unic Insurance Plc, trading 5.11 million shares valued at N5.27 million in 22 deals and International Energy Insurance Plc recorded 1.31 million shares valued at N0.75 million in 23 deals.

The Banking sub-sector followed on the sectorial analysis, accounting for 26.38 per cent of the market turnover, 90.04 million shares valued at N702.72 million in 1,628 deals. Diamond Bank Plc recorded the highest patronage in the sub-sector, trading 22.58 million shares valued at N159.37 million in 49 deals, GTBank Plc followed with the exchange of 16.15 million shares valued at 242.81 million in 228 deals and FinBank Plc recorded 9.87 million shares valued at N4.95 million in 67 deals.