Investors' optimism of sustained capital gains on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) melted on Friday following what dealers termed the uncertainty in the political climate.

While fear of the heated polity impacting on portfolio investments continued to envelope the stock market, most operators still hoped that the economy would scale through the political logjam.

At the end of Friday's transactions, investors, who on Thursday expressed confidence in the potentials for growth, suffered a 0.7 percent dip in their cumulative average net worth.

The market capitalization also lost 30 billion naira (about 234. 38 million U.S. dollars) to close at 4.166 trillion naira (about 32.55 billion dollars) compared with 4.196 trillion naira (about 32.78 billion dollars) achieved on Thursday.

The benchmark all-share index also crashed by 234.14 points to close at 33,212.41 points, down from 33,446.55 points recorded on Thursday.

The market turnover showed that the banking sub-sector maintained its dominance with 171.53 million shares worth 1.83 billion naira (about 14.3 million dollars) traded in 3,651 deals.

In all, investors on Friday shook off their fears of the political situation and bought 212.59 million shares worth 2.73 billion naira (about 21.33 million dollars) traded in 6,350 deals.

Source: Xinhua