The bearish trend, which trailed the equity sector of the Nigerian Stock Exchange for the past few weeks went further yesterday, as the All-share index, which measures the performance of companies, slid further by 0.4 per cent.

Volume of shares traded, however, witnessed an increase, as 449.5 million shares, valued at N3.6 billion changed hands in 9,397 deals, higher than 281.6 million units, worth N2 billion exchanged in 6,882 deals, on Friday.

Specifically, at the re-opening of market for trading yesterday, price losers outweighed the gainers, as 35 stocks recorded price appreciation, while 60 constituted the losers' chart.

Precisely, corporate performance indices, the All-share index of the Exchange dipped further by 111.87 points or 0.4 per cent, from 26,100.64 recorded on Friday to 25,988.77, while market capitalisation dipped by N26 billion or 0.4 per cent, from N5,983 trillion to N5,957 trillion.

With transaction done in 5,909 deals, the banking sub-sector dominated in volume terms with 233.2 million shares, worth N2.8 billion. The banking sub-sector followed with 160.7 million units, valued at N125 million. The Food/Beverages and tobacco sub-sector also featured with 102 million shares, worth N86.2 million in 387 deals.

Further analysis of yesterday's transaction showed that First Bank of Nigeria Plc dominated in volume terms in the banking sub-sector with 63.8 million shares, worth N1.4 billion, in 1,951 deals, while Wema Bank Plc followed with 20.2 million units, worth N149.1 million, in 215 deals.

The banking sub-sector was energised with activities in the shares of Goldlink Insurance Plc, which traded 81.1 million shares, worth N40.5 million, in 93 deals, while AIICO Insurance Plc followed with 22 million shares, worth N22.9 million, in 674 deals.

Tantalizers Nigeria Plc dominated in volume terms in the food/beverages & tobacco sub-sector with 4.1 million shares, worth N3.8 million, in 40 deals, while Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc followed with 2.6 million units, worth N44 million, in 99 deals.

Oando Nigeria Plc led the bulls up with 417 kobo to close at N87.67 per share. UACN Nigeria Plc followed with 161 kobo, to close at N37.62 per share. First Bank of Nigeria Plc, UBN Plc, PZ Cussons Plc, BOC Gases Plc, CCNN Plc and Zenith Bank Plc also added 100 kobo, 80 kobo, 79 kobo, 78 kobo, 44 kobo and 41 kobo, to close at N22.00, N16.85, N20.28, N16.53, N9.54 and N13.69 per share.

On the other hand, Guinness Nigeria Plc led others on the losers' chart, shedding 592 kobo to close at N130.05 per share. Benue Cement Company Plc followed, shedding 200 kobo to close at N39.40 per share.

Other major losers include Julius Berger Plc, Glaxo SmithKline Plc, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc and West African Portland Company Plc, shedding 160 kobo, 90 kobo, 80 kobo, 71 kobo, 69 kobo, 54 kobo and 51 kobo to close at N30.56, N17.10, N16.30, N14.20, N13.23, N13.05 and N26.50 per share.