The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) closed strong on Wednesday, 19 June 2025, with investors showing renewed interest in insurance and oil and gas stocks, pushing the market capitalisation up by ₦1.18 trillion—the highest single-day gain recorded so far this week.
The All-Share Index (ASI) rose sharply by 2,246.00 points or 1.95%, closing at 117,156.16 basis points, while the overall market capitalisation moved from ₦72.5 trillion to ₦73.7 trillion.
This bullish momentum was largely driven by key gainers in the insurance and oil and gas sectors. Major performers included NEM Insurance Plc, which led the gainers’ list with a 10% increase to close at ₦16.50 per share, and Seplat Energy Plc, which saw a 9.78% gain to close at ₦5,450.00 per share. Other notable risers were Thomas Wyatt Nigeria Plc and Linkage Assurance Plc, which gained 9.73% and 9.56% respectively.
Data from the NGX showed that the Oil & Gas Index led sectoral performance with a 7.49% rise. This was followed by the Premium Index, which gained 3.52%. The Banking Index also performed well, recording a 3.25% increase, while the Insurance Index was up by 2.02%.
Overall, 130 stocks traded during the session, with 37 equities recording price increases and 31 recording losses, pointing to a largely positive trading sentiment across the board.
On the losing side, Eterna Plc recorded the biggest drop, falling by 10% to close at ₦38.70 per share. Other laggards included Secure Electronic Technology Plc, which declined by 9.68%, Legend Internet down by 9.66%, and FTN Cocoa Processors Plc, which lost 6.07%.
Despite the market’s positive close, total volume of shares traded fell by 19% from the previous session. However, the value of those trades rose slightly by 1% to ₦26.01 billion. The total number of deals executed dropped by 15%, settling at 19,727.
Among the most actively traded stocks by volume, Zenith Bank Plc led the pack with 150 million shares exchanged. It was followed by Access Holdings Plc with 48.6 million shares, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc with 43 million shares, and Nigerian Breweries Plc with 37.7 million shares.
The performance on Wednesday helped the NGX post a 2.75% gain for the week so far, a 6.79% gain over four weeks, and a year-to-date return of 13.83%. These figures reflect growing investor confidence, despite ongoing macroeconomic challenges such as inflation, forex volatility, and weak consumer spending.
Market analysts at Afrinvest said they expect Thursday’s trading session to continue in a positive direction, driven by increased bargain-hunting activities and improved market sentiment.
“Investor sentiment has picked up significantly, and we expect this optimism to drive buying activities across major sectors, leading to a positive close,” the firm said in a market note.
The strong performance on Wednesday came just a day after the market posted a ₦183 billion loss on Tuesday, 18 June 2025. That loss was attributed to bearish sentiment and sell pressure on blue-chip stocks, which briefly dragged key market indicators into the red.
The quick rebound suggests that many investors are taking advantage of short-term price dips to re-enter the market, particularly in undervalued sectors like insurance and energy. The steady recovery in oil prices and improving corporate results from listed firms are also believed to be encouraging this positive outlook.
As the second half of the year approaches, traders and analysts will continue to monitor interest rate policies, foreign exchange trends, and government reform efforts, which all play a major role in shaping market direction.
