Last week, the trio of Fidelity Bank, Universal Insurance, and Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) accounted for 40.28 per cent and 38.69 per cent of the total trading volume and value at the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited, respectively, with 909.821 million shares worth N12.057 billion traded in 4,798 deals.

Business Post reports that in the week, investors transacted 2.259 billion equities worth N31.166 billion in 42,851 deals versus the 2.651 billion equities worth N49.976 billion traded in 41,610 deals in the preceding week.

It was observed that the financial services industry led the activity chart with 1.801 billion stocks valued at N22.030 billion traded in 23,112 deals, contributing 79.75 per cent and 70.69 per cent to the total trading volume and value, respectively.

The energy counter followed with 121.001 million shares worth N1.771 billion in 3,124 deals, and the conglomerates sector transacted 90.713 million stocks valued at N1.081 billion in 2,277 deals.

Data showed that 37 equities appreciated in the five-day trading week versus 48 equities in the previous week, as 45 shares depreciated compared with 34 shares of the previous week, and 72 stocks closed flat, in contrast to 72 stocks of the earlier week.

Veritas Kapital gained 25.00 per cent to sell for N1.15, Conoil appreciated by 20.48 per cent to N126.50, Jaiz Bank grew by 19.49 per cent to N2.33, Coronation Insurance expanded by 17.91 per cent to 79 Kobo, and AIICO Insurance increased by 13.40 per cent to N1.10.

On the other side of the coin, UPDC REIT shed 17.43 per cent to N4.50, Ikeja Hotel lost 12.03 per cent to close at N6.95, Lasaco Assurance depreciated by 9.80 per cent to N2.30, Julius Berger fell by 9.59 per cent to N88.60, and Mutual Benefits slumped by 8.96 per cent to 61 Kobo.

The week was marred with selling pressure, which sank the All-Share Index (ASI) and the market capitalisation by 0.04 per cent each to 100,022.03 points and N56.581 trillion, respectively.

All other indices finished higher except NGX 30, NGX Premium, MERI Value, consumer goods, Lotus II, and Pension Broad, fell by 0.27 per cent, 0.52 per cent, 0.01 per cent 0.69 per cent, 0.56 per cent and 0.07 per cent, respectively, while the ASeM and sovereign bond indices closed flat.