Highly capitalised stocks have continued to record share price appreciation on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), putting the bulls ahead of the bears, as the All-share index rose further by 1.4 per cent.

Specifically, 72 stocks appreciated in price when the market re-opened for trading yesterday with Nestle Nigeria Plc emerging the day's highest price gainer, adding 800 kobo, to close at N177.50 per share, while Guinness Nigeria Plc followed with 500 kobo, to close at N114.00 per share.

Benue Cement Company of Nigeria Plc, Flour Mills Plc, Julius Berger Plc, PZ Cussons Plc, West African Portland Cement Company Plc and First Bank of Nigeria Plc, adding 184 kobo, 145 kobo, 144 kobo, 102 kobo, 100 kobo and 97 kobo, to close at N38.79, N30.58, N31.20, N21.48, N21.00 and N20.47 per share.

However, 22 stocks constituted the loser's table with Conoil Nigeria Plc leading others on the list with 350 kobo to close at N66.50 per share. UAC Properties Plc followed with 176 kobo, to close at N33.44 per share.

Oando Nigeria Plc, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, PlatinumHabib Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, and Union Dicon Plc also lost 50kobo, 39 kobo, 33 kobo, 32 kobo, and 21 kobo, to close at N90.00, N19.62, N8.56, N23.40 and N7.00 per share.

Corporate Performance Indices, the All-share index of the Exchange increased by 396.52 points or 1.4 per cent, from 26,989.04 recorded on Friday to 27,385.56 yesterday, while Market capitalisation appreciated by N100 billion or 1.6 per cent, from N6.1 trillion to N6.2 trillion.

The banking sub-sector remains the most active in volume terms with 225.5 million shares, valued at N2 billion in 5,100deals, while the agricultural sub-sector ranked second, trading 112.72 million shares worth N175.57 million, in 65 deals.

Construction sub-sector exchanged 100 million shares worth N96.56 million in 171 deals, taking the third position, while the insurance sub-sector followed on the list with 67.9 million units worth N57 million in 599 deals.

Skye Bank Plc dominated in volume terms in the banking sub sector with 68.3 million shares worth N402.5 million in 646 deals, followed by Diamond Bank Plc with 22.1 million units valued at N190.2 million in 266deals.

Multiverse Plc buoyed activity in the construction sub sector with 99million shares worth N84million, while the insurance sub-sector was energized by activity in the shares of Goldlink Insurance Plc and Universal Insurance Plc with 17.2 million shares and 11.1 million units valued at N8.6 million and N6.3 million in 64 and 57deals.

In all, 596.6 million shares worth N3 billon were traded in 7,864 deals by investors.