NGX Market Capitalisation Hits N131.6tn as 31 Stocks Drive Gains in Bullish Trading Session

The Nigerian equities market opened the week on a positive note as renewed buying interest in medium and large-cap stocks pushed the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) to a total market capitalisation of N131.6tn, reflecting a gain of about N443bn in a single trading session. The upbeat performance signaled cautious but growing investor confidence despite ongoing macroeconomic pressures.

The All-Share Index rose by 688.43 points, or 0.34 per cent, to close at 204,458.86 points, as market breadth remained positive with 31 gainers outpacing 24 losers. Key drivers of the rally included strong performances from blue-chip and mid-cap stocks such as Guinness Nigeria, Nigerian Exchange Group, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Nigerian Breweries, and CWG, which attracted sustained investor demand.

Leading the gainers’ chart was Nigerian Exchange Group, which surged by the maximum 10 per cent to close at N153.45 per share. It was followed by Trans-Nationwide Express, which gained 9.81 per cent, and McNichols Consolidated, up 9.74 per cent. Other notable performers included VFD Group and Chams Holding Company, which also recorded strong upward movement as bullish sentiment spread across select counters.

However, not all stocks participated in the rally. Berger Paints led the laggards after shedding 9.95 per cent, while Academy Press and Caverton Offshore Support Group also declined, reflecting continued profit-taking in some segments of the market. Overall trading volume fell by 14.33 per cent to 470.008 million units, even as banking stocks—led by Access Holdings, GTCO, and Zenith Bank—dominated activity.

Market analysts at United Capital Plc described the outlook as “selectively constructive,” noting that investors are increasingly rotating into dividend-paying and fundamentally strong stocks. While optimism remains in the market, experts caution that elevated bond yields and persistent inflation risks may limit broad-based rallies, with future gains likely concentrated in defensive, cash-generating companies such as Dangote Cement and Lafarge Africa, which ended the session unchanged.

source: punch