The Nigerian stock market rebounded strongly on Thursday, adding N233 billion to its value as renewed investor interest drove gains across multiple sectors.
The positive close saw the total market capitalization rise 0.22 percent to N105.969 trillion, up from N105.736 trillion at the previous session’s close. Correspondingly, the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) All-Share Index increased by 362.93 points (0.22 percent) to settle at 165,527.31.
Market breadth confirmed the bullish sentiment, with 41 stocks advancing against 27 decliners. RT Briscoe led the gains, surging 10 percent to close at N7.15 per share. Conversely, Haldane McCall recorded the steepest loss, dropping 9.84 percent to N3.94. Other notable losers included Union Dicon Salt, University Press, and Legend Internet.
Trading activity was mixed in volume terms but showed a clear shift in leadership. Total volume traded rose 10 percent to 691.4 million shares, while transaction value fell 7 percent to N15.4 billion across 38,665 deals—down from 42,172 deals in the prior session.
The most significant change was in stock-specific momentum. Cutix dominated trading by volume, with 144.62 million shares exchanged (20.92 percent of total volume), marking a notable departure from recent sessions where banking stocks typically led. In value terms, Aradel Holdings was the top-traded stock, accounting for N2.67 billion, or 17.36 percent of the day’s total turnover.
This rally in the Nigerian market occurred against a backdrop of declines in major U.S. equity benchmarks, including the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, which closed lower during the same period. The divergent performance highlights a localized shift in risk appetite within Nigeria’s bourse, where previously underperforming sectors attracted buying interest.
The session’s outcome suggests a short-term recalibration of portfolios on the NGX, with investors rotating into specific industrial and consumer stocks. However, the concurrent drop in trade value and deal count indicates that participation may still be selective, warranting monitoring for sustained momentum in the coming sessions.
