By Goddy Egene
The bears returned to the local bourse yesterday pulling, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index (ASI) down by 0.19 per cent to close at 40,494.35. The market had opened for the week on positive note after two weeks of decline, raising hopes that the bargain hunting could be sustained.
However, sell-offs in Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Nigerian Breweries Plc and Zenith Bank Plc, FBN Holdings Plc, Access Bank Plc, among others led to a negative close. A total of 20 stocks depreciated as against 22 stocks that appreciated.
The top of the gainers’ table was dominated by insurance stocks led by Cornerstone Insurance Plc shed 10 per cent. Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc trailed with 9.5 per cent, just as Prestige Assurance Plc and Coronation Insurance Plc went down by 8.5 per cent and 8.3 per cent respectively.