Nigerian Stock Market ends week in red

The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) ended Friday’s trading session in negative territory. The All-Share Index closed at 26,925.29 basis points, down 0.47%.

Year to date, the index is down by 14.33%.

BOC Gases Plc was the best-performing stock today. The stock gained 9.87% to close at N6.12. FCMB Plc also gained 9.59% to close at N1.60. Union Diagnostic & Clinical Services Plc gained 9.09% to close at N0.24. Flour Mills Nigeria Plc gained 7.81% to close at 13.40. Custodian Investment Plc rounded off the top five gainers for today. The stock gained 7.14% to close at N6.

On the flip side, NASCON Allied Industries Plc was the worst-performing stock, declining by 10% to close at N12.60. Nestle Nigeria Plc also fell by 10% to close at N1143. Law Union & Rocks Insurance Plc fell by 8.33% to close at N0.33. NEIMETH International Pharmaceuticals Plc fell by 7.27% to close at N0.51. Oando Plc rounded off the top five losers for the day. The stock shed 6.94% to close at N3.35.

Guaranty Trust Bank Plc was the most actively-traded stock today. 67.8 million shares valued at N1.7 billion were traded in 344 deals. Transnational Corp of Nigeria Plc was next with 25.6 million shares valued at N23 million traded in 96 deals, followed by Sterling Bank of Nigeria Plc with 25 million shares valued at N55.4 million traded in 1229 deals.

Fidelity Bank Plc was next with 23.6 million shares valued at N33.6 million traded in 171 deals. Zenith Bank Plc rounded off the top five most actively traded stocks today with 19.3 million shares valued at N321 million traded in 476 deals.

Meanwhile, Union Dicon Salt Plc has notified the general public of its delay in filing the Unaudited interim account for the period ended June 30, 2019. The delay is to enable the Company to clarify its position on the External Auditors’ qualification of the Company’s Audited Financial Statements for the year December 31, 2018 (2018 AFS) with the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC).

The Unaudited Financial Statements for the period ended June 30, 2019, will be filed after the Company has received clearance from FRC.

Forte Oil Plc notifies the general public that its Board Meeting has been scheduled for September 2, 2019.

Guaranty Trust Bank Plc has declared an interim dividend of 30 kobo per share for the period ended June 30, 2019.

The Company also released its Financial Statements for the half-year period ended June 30, 2018.

Gross Earnings dipped from N226 billion in 2018 to N221 billion in 2019. Profit before Tax increased from N109 billion in 2018 to N115 billion in 2019. Profit after Tax also increased from N95.5 billion in 2018 to N99.1 billion in 2019.