Equity transactions at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday recorded a downturn as market capitalisation dropped by N10 billion.Market capitalisation closed at N5.931 trillion as against N5.941 trillion recorded on Wednesday.

There was more decline in the shares price of some major stocks.The benchmark All-Share Index fell by 43.87 points or 0.18 per cent to close at 24,203.18 from the opening index of 24,247.05.Out of 59 equities that were traded, 37 lost share prices as against the 22 that grew in price value.

Chevron led the price losers' pack, losing N3.90 to close at N81.70 per share.

Cadbury went down by N1.05 to close at N26.35 while Nigerian Breweries (NB) lost N1.00 to close at N70.00.AP topped the price gainers' table, appreciating by N1.41 to close at N29.78 per share.

Ashaka Cement went up by N1.00 to close at N21.00 while PZ shares rose by 50k to end the day at N32.50.The sector analysis indicated that the banking sub-sector led in the activity performance, transacting 148.46 million shares valued at N1.28 billion in 3,616 deals.

Activity in the sub-sector was largely driven by the shares of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) where investors staked N504.21 million on 32.55 million shares in 557 deals.

NAN