The stock market appreciated further on Thursday, buoyed by gains recorded by Forte Oil Plc and 12 others at the close of trading.
The market had on Monday rallied significantly as gains by 17 stocks helped to reverse the losses recorded last week, with key market indicators jumping by 2.02 per cent.
The NSE All-Share Index on Thursday rose to 24,664.89 basis points, down from 24,135.40 basis points in the previous day.
Similarly, the market capitalisation of listed equities increased by N182bn to close at N8.483tn, compared to N8.301tn on Wednesday.
All the other 11 indices also saw an increase, with the exception of the NSE Insurance Index, which declined slightly, while the NSE ASeM Index remained unchanged.
Forte Oil, which led the gainers on Thursday, appreciated by 8.67 per cent to close at N326 per share.
It was followed by Dangote Cement Plc, Ikeja Hotel Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc and Unity Bank Plc.
Dangote Cement rose by 6.63 per cent to close to N145 per share, while Ikeja Hotel was up by 3.82 per cent to close at N2.99 per share.
UBA gained 3.16 per cent to close at N2.94 per share, while Unity Bank saw its share price increase to N0.07 from N0.68 on Wednesday.
The losses recorded by 21 stocks on Thursday were unable to prevent the market from closing on a positive note.
Glaxo Smithkline Consumer Nigeria Plc, Axamansard Insurance Plc, Portland Paints & Products Nigeria Plc, May & Baker Nigeria Pl and Conoil Plc emerged the top five losers at the close of trading on Thursday.
Glaxo Smithkline shed five per cent to close at N20.91 per share, while Axamansard lost 4.87 per cent to close at N2.15.
Portland Paints depreciated by 4.77 per cent to close at N3.59 per share; May & Baker lost 4.76 per cent to close at N0.80 per share and Conoil shed 4.73 per cent to close at N18.33 per share.