Investors trade N1.5 billion worth of shares.

Equities trading on the Nigerian Stock Exchange amounted to N1.5 billion yesterday, as investors moved 143.2 million shares in 2,551 deals.

The All-Share Index (ASI) and market capitalization closed at 25,322.30 and N8.774 trillion, following a decline of 0.54 and 0.13 percent respectively.

Mansard led the day’s nine appreciating stocks by 4.61 percent to close at N1.59. UACN followed with a growth of 4.14 percent to close at N15.10, and Caverton Offshore Support Group was third with 3.45 percent to close at 90 kobo.

Unilever and Transcorp added 2.94 and 2.60 percent respectively to close at 35 kobo and 79 kobo respectively.

On the other hand, PZ Cussons led the day’s 27 declining stocks with a loss of 9.73 percent to close at N11.04, followed by 7-Up, which shed 5 percent to close at N106.50.

Forte Oil depreciated by 4.99 percent to close at N53.87, while Union Dicon and Union Bank of Nigeria dropped 4.98 and 4.84 percent each to close at N14.89 and N4.72 per share respectively.

Fidelity Bank emerged the most traded equity on Thursday with an exchange of 24.4 million shares, It was trailed by Diamond Bank having accounted for 20.3 million shares, while Zenith Bank recorded a sale of 30.0 million shares worth N12.5 million; FBN Holdings traded 10.7 million shares and STACO moved 10 million.