NEWS FLASH

INVESTORS LOSE N30BN AS STOCKS END GAINING STREAK

INVESTORS LOST N30BN ON MONDAY AS THE NIGERIAN STOCK MARKET STARTED THE MONTH ON A NEGATIVE NOTE AMID PROFIT-TAKING, ENDING A FIVE-DAY GAINING STREAK. THE MARKET CAPITALISATION OF EQUITIES LISTED ON THE NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE HAD RISEN BY 3.44 PER CENT LAST WEEK AS THE MARKET CONTINUED ITS UPWARD TREND FOR FIVE CONSECUTIVE TRADING SESSIONS. INVESTORS GAINED OVER N1TN IN JANUARY AS THE MARKET CAPITALISATION ROSE TO N22.19TN ON FRIDAY FROM N21.06TN AT THE START OF THE MONTH. THE NSE ALL-SHARE INDEX, HOWEVER, DROPPED BY 0.13 PER CENT ON MONDAY TO 42,357.90 BASIS POINTS FROM 42,412.66BPS LAST FRIDAY, WHILE THE MARKET CAPITALISATION FELL TO N22.16TN FROM N22.19TN. TWENTY-EIGHT STOCKS RECORDED PRICE REDUCTION ON MONDAY, WITH ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC TOPPING THE LOSERS’ TABLE AS ITS SHARE PRICE DIPPED BY 10 PER CENT TO N0.36.