The Nigerian stock market started December 2025 on a cautious and bearish note, shedding about N200 billion in market value. The benchmark All Share Index (ASI) declined by 0.22% to close at 143,210.33 points, signaling a slowdown after the previous week’s modest gains. Year-to-date returns eased slightly to 39.14% from 39.44%, while market capitalization dropped to N91.09 trillion.
Investor sentiment was dampened by selloffs in major counters, with International Breweries (-10.00%), Dangote Sugar (-1.61%), and WAPCO (-0.45%) leading the losses. These declines outweighed buying interest in select stocks, including UBA (+1.51%), Champion (+8.11%), and AIICO (+6.34%), which managed to post strong gains despite the negative market tone.
Market activity also slowed, with transaction volume falling 19.74% to 466.18 million shares, and trade value slipping 6.82% to N18.67 billion. Cornerstone Insurance emerged as the most actively traded stock, with 908.82 million units exchanging hands at a value of N4.59 billion. Overall, the market breadth was negative, with 26 stocks losing ground against 19 gainers.
Despite the sell-off, block trades in financial stocks hinted at ongoing institutional interest, particularly in Wema Bank, AccessCorp, Fidelity, and Zenith Bank. Analysts suggest that such trades reflect a cautious but strategic accumulation by long-term investors, even amid broader market weakness.
Monday’s market decline mirrors trends observed in recent weeks, with the Consumer and Insurance sectors under particular pressure. While select banking and industrial stocks offered pockets of optimism, the negative sentiment underscores persistent caution among investors as the Nigerian equities market enters the final month of 2025.
source: nairametrics