Transactions at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) closed on a positive trend on Friday with the market indices appreciating by 0.59 per cent to reverse the negative trend.

The All-Share Index appreciated by 198.50 points or 0.59 per cent to close at 33,664.91 compared with 33,466.41 achieved on Thursday. Similarly, the market capitalisation, which opened at N11.423 trillion, rose by N68 billion or 0.59 per cent to close at N11.491 trillion due to price appreciation.

Forte Oil led the gainers’ table, gaining N5.85 to close at N159.85 per share. Presco followed with a gain of N1 to close N34.50, while Zenith Bank garnered 72k to close at N19.97 per share.

GTBank rose by 60k to close at N27.50, while Oando increased by 59k to close at N17.87 per share. On the other hand, Nestle topped the losers’ chart, dropping by N1 to close at N869 per share. Wapco lost 40k to close at N99, while National Salt dipped 30k to close at N7 per share. Eternaoil dropped 11k to close at N2.65 and Vono Products decreased by 9k to close at N1.75 per share.

However, the volume of shares traded dropped by 3.57 per cent with an exchange of 198.42 million shares valued N2.46 billion transacted in 3,510 deals.

This was against the 205.76 million shares worth N2.16 billion traded in 4,160 deals on Thursday.

Diamond Bank drove the activity chart with 44.09 million shares valued N194.76 million.

Zenith Bank came second with 19.37 million shares worth N386.77 million, while Wapic Insurance transacted 16.39 million shares worth N8.26 million.

Investors’ staked N383.29 million on 14.04 million shares of GTBank and FBN Holdings sold 11.19 million shares worth N100.86 million