The Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) ended the past trading week on a bullish note, recording a sharp rise in investor sentiment that led to a N1.71 trillion boost in market capitalisation. According to the NGX’s weekly trading report, the All-Share Index (ASI) climbed by 2.49 per cent to close at 111,742.01 points, while the total market value rose to N70.463 trillion from the previous week’s N68.753 trillion.
During the week, investors traded a total of 3.794 billion shares valued at N119.394 billion in 89,636 deals. This marked a small drop in the volume of shares traded compared to the 3.932 billion shares exchanged in the previous week, but the rise in total value shows increased interest in high-value stocks.
The Financial Services sector dominated trading activities, accounting for 72.34 per cent of the total trading volume and 66.84 per cent of the market value. A total of 2.744 billion shares worth N79.805 billion were exchanged in 36,458 deals. The Consumer Goods sector followed with 201.889 million shares worth N7.623 billion in 11,922 deals, while the Services sector recorded 173.748 million shares worth N1.719 billion in 6,385 deals.
United Bank for Africa Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, and Access Holdings Plc were the most traded stocks by volume, with a combined 1.942 billion shares worth N61.542 billion exchanged in 12,443 deals. These three banks alone accounted for over half of the total equity volume and value traded on the Exchange, showing the continuing investor confidence in the banking sector.
The market also saw strong price movements during the week, with 56 stocks recording gains, compared to 52 in the previous week. At the same time, 44 equities saw price losses, which was slightly higher than the 41 recorded earlier. The number of unchanged stocks dropped to 48 from 55.
Among the top gainers for the week was University Press Plc, which rose by 35.32 per cent to close at N5.90. Red Star Express Plc followed with a 23.99 per cent gain to finish at N8.32, and Omatek Ventures Plc appreciated by 20 per cent to close at N0.78.
On the losing side, Abbey Mortgage Bank Plc led the list of decliners, falling by 26.87 per cent to close at N5.58. Legend Internet Plc dropped by 18.95 per cent to N6.16, while Nigerian Enamelware Plc lost 18.77 per cent to end the week at N20.55.
In the Exchange Traded Products (ETP) segment, 69,078 units valued at N9.091 million were traded during the week, a decline from the previous week’s 109,953 units worth N52.587 million.
A key corporate development during the week was the official name change of Standard Alliance Insurance Plc to Fortis Global Insurance Plc. This follows shareholder approval at the company’s extraordinary general meeting held on April 4, 2025, and the issuance of a new certificate of incorporation from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
Despite mixed performances in sector-specific indices like the CG, AFR Bank Value, MERI Value, Oil and Gas, and Growth Indices — all of which closed in the red — analysts maintain a positive outlook for the Nigerian stock market.
Investment analysts at Afrinvest stated that the market is likely to keep its momentum as investors focus on long-term value. “Looking ahead, we anticipate the bourse to sustain the positive performance as investors reassess long-term opportunities in fundamentally viable stocks,” the firm noted.
However, the last trading session of the week closed on a bearish note, with a decline of N48 billion in equities market capitalisation. Analysts said this reflects short-term profit-taking and investor caution after a week of gains.
Despite the dip at the end of the week, market sentiment remains largely upbeat, with many investors showing confidence in the future performance of strong and well-managed companies on the Exchange.
