The equities market closed on a positive note for the third consecutive session on Wednesday with the Nigeria Stock Exchange All Share Index rising by 0.14 per cent or 58.71 basis points to close at 43,030.27 basis points.

This is in contrast to the 0.10 per cent or 40.96 basis points appreciation it recorded the previous day to close at 42,971.56 basis points.

In the same vein, the market capitalisation of the listed equities rose by 0.14 per cent or N19bn to close at N14.208tn, up from Tuesday’s close of N14.189tn.

The NSE 30 Index, which tracks the performance of the top 30 companies on the exchange in terms of capitalisation, also advanced on Wednesday. It rose by 6.26 basis points or 0.32 per cent from 1,952.06 basis points to close at 1,958.32 basis points.

The banking sub-sector led the activity chart in terms of volume traded, accounting for 58 per cent of total turnover traded.

In the sub-sector, 184.371 million shares worth N782m were traded in 1,501 deals with Unity Bank Plc and Skye Bank Plc driving volume in the sub-sector.

Zenith International Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc also recorded high turnover in the sub-sector.

According to the Exchange, the most traded equities for the day are Unity Bank, Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc, Skye Bank, FBN Holdings Plc and Oando Plc, respectively.

In all, investors exchanged 317.158 million shares valued at N3.061bn in 5,098 deals on Wednesday with 22 equities recording gains and 26 making losses.

NPF Microfinance Bank Plc topped the gainers’ table after rising by five per cent or five kobo to close at N1.05 per share.

Total Nigeria Plc also rose by five per cent to close at N171.60 per share, while Mobil Nigeria Plc followed closely with a 4.99 per cent or N7 gain to close at N147.15 per share.

May and Baker Nigeria Plc, on the other hand, topped the losers’ table. It shed five per cent or nine kobo to close at N1.71 per share.