Nigeria’s stock market kicked off the week with a strong performance, as investors gained N443 billion amid renewed buying interest in major equities. The market capitalization rose by 0.34 percent, climbing from N131.165 trillion at the start of trading to N131.608 trillion by the close of the session. The All-Share Index also advanced, gaining 688.43 points or 0.34 percent to settle at 204,458.86, up from 203,770.43 recorded in the previous session.
Market breadth closed positively, with 32 gainers outpacing 24 losers. The year-to-date return improved to 31.39 percent, reflecting sustained investor confidence in the Nigerian equities market.
Leading the gainers’ chart was NGX Group, which surged by 10 percent to close at N153.45 per share. Trans-Nationwide Express followed with a 9.81 percent gain to N4.14, while MC Nichols rose by 9.74 percent to N7.10. VFD Group and CHAMS also recorded significant gains of 9.71 percent and 8.96 percent, respectively.
On the flip side, Berger Paints topped the losers’ table with a 9.95 percent decline to N68.35 per share. Academy Press fell by 9.71 percent to N7.90, while Caverton Offshore Support Group dropped by 5.98 percent to N5.50. Honeywell Flour and CAP also posted losses of 4.92 percent and 3.81 percent, respectively.
Despite the bullish sentiment, trading activity declined, with the total volume of shares traded dropping by 14.33 percent to 470.01 million shares valued at N32.45 billion, executed in 60,793 deals. Access Corporation led the volume chart with 54.91 million shares, accounting for 11.68 percent of the total traded volume. Aradel Holdings dominated the value chart, with transactions worth N7.05 billion, representing 21.74 percent of the total value traded.
The positive performance underscores the resilience of Nigeria’s stock market, which has continued to attract investor interest despite broader economic challenges. Analysts suggest that the gains reflect optimism about corporate earnings and macroeconomic stability, though trading volumes remain a point of concern. As the market moves forward, investors will be watching for further developments in corporate performance and policy measures that could sustain the upward momentum.
