NIGERIA: Investors in the Nigerian equities market gained approximately ₦779.31bn on Thursday as renewed buying interest reversed the previous session’s losses, pushing the market’s total capitalisation to a record ₦164.97tn.
The Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) All-Share Index rose by 1,200.24 points, representing a 0.47 per cent appreciation, to close at 254,083.02 points, compared with 252,882.78 points recorded at the previous trading session.
The development lifted the market’s year-to-date return to 63.28 per cent, reflecting the strong appreciation recorded by Nigerian equities since the beginning of 2026.
The recovery followed Wednesday’s downturn, when the market shed approximately ₦719bn in capitalisation amid profit-taking and mixed performances across major stocks.
Thursday’s rebound was largely supported by gains in heavyweight equities, particularly Dangote Cement Plc, which appreciated by 5.82 per cent to close at ₦1,420 per share, reaching a new 52-week high.
The performance strengthened the industrial goods sector, whose index advanced by 3.41 per cent to 12,199.47 points, emerging as the best-performing sectoral index during the session.
Other notable gainers included FCMB Group, which rose by 3.7 per cent, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, up 2.9 per cent, and Access Holdings, which appreciated by 1.9 per cent.
However, the banking sector recorded a contrasting performance, with its index declining by 2.10 per cent to 2,461.21 points.
First HoldCo Plc led the losers’ table, shedding 10 per cent to close at ₦125.55 per share. United Bank for Africa and Guaranty Trust Holding Company also recorded marginal declines of 0.23 per cent and 0.08 per cent, respectively.
Despite its price decline, First HoldCo dominated trading activity, accounting for 343.80 million shares, representing 52.55 per cent of the total volume traded.
Transactions involving the company’s shares were valued at ₦34.78bn, accounting for 60.63 per cent of the market’s total transaction value of ₦57.36bn.
Meanwhile, eTranzact International Plc led the gainers’ table, appreciating by 10 per cent to close at ₦17.60 per share.
Sovereign Trust Insurance gained 9.60 per cent to close at ₦2.17, while Fortis Global Insurance advanced by 9.38 per cent to ₦1.75.
On the losing side, Livestock Feeds declined by 9.70 per cent to ₦12.10, while Tantalizers Plc shed 8.40 per cent to close at ₦3.60.
Trading activity strengthened significantly, with investors exchanging 654.28 million shares in 35,821 deals, compared with 404.08 million shares traded in 38,970 deals during the preceding session.
The volume of transactions increased by 61.90 per cent, while trading value rose by approximately 105.54 per cent to ₦57.36bn.
Market breadth was marginally positive, with 27 stocks appreciating against 26 decliners, indicating a relatively balanced distribution of gains and losses.
Among sectoral indices, the insurance index gained 0.75 per cent, while the oil and gas index advanced marginally by 0.05 per cent. The consumer goods index, however, declined by 0.06 per cent.
The latest rebound reinforces the strong performance of the Nigerian equities market this year, with its benchmark index delivering a 63.28 per cent return despite intermittent profit-taking and mixed performances across sectors.
Investors are expected to continue monitoring corporate earnings, dividend announcements and broader economic developments for indications of the market’s direction in the coming sessions.
