Trading on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) ended Monday on a positive note, with the All-Share Index climbing to 195,514.23 points from Friday’s 192,826.78. Market capitalization rose to N125.49tn from N123.76tn, marking a robust N1.7tn gain as investor optimism returned, particularly in the banking, oil & gas, and consumer goods sectors.
Despite the broad gains, trading volume dipped 4.12% to 789.9 million units, while total value traded edged up 0.94% to N35.08bn. Fortis Global Insurance led in volume with 109.1 million units traded, and Aradel Holdings dominated the value chart with N6.1bn exchanged. Market breadth was balanced, closing evenly with 31 gainers and 31 decliners, reflecting selective investor engagement across sectors.
The NGX Banking Index recorded modest growth, closing at 1,897.05 points from 1,892.07. Tier-one banks like Zenith Bank Plc and Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc gained marginally, while Wema Bank Plc surged 3.52% to N27.95. Some banks, however, experienced losses, including United Bank for Africa Plc and Access Holdings Plc, showing a mix of cautious optimism and profit-taking among investors.
The NGX Oil and Gas Index was among the strongest performers, rising sharply to 4,250.92 points. Aradel Holdings Plc jumped nearly 10% to N1,192.30, while Oando Plc advanced 9.33%, reflecting heightened demand in the energy sector. Similarly, the Consumer Goods Index strengthened to 4,385.97, lifted by notable gains in PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc and International Breweries Plc, although Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc declined slightly.
The NGX Industrial Index rebounded to 7,497.05 points, led by heavyweights Dangote Cement Plc and Lafarge Africa Plc. Overall, the market saw a rotation into fundamentally strong sectors like financial services, energy, and industrial goods. This movement helped push market capitalization above N125tn again, signaling a renewed confidence among investors and reinforcing the positive trajectory of the Nigerian stock market.
source: punch