The Nigerian stock market paused its recent bullish momentum on January 15, 2026, as the All-Share Index (ASI) fell by 714.7 points to 166,057.3, ending a nine-day winning streak. Despite the broader market decline, Nestle emerged as a standout performer, gaining a remarkable 10%, signaling continued investor confidence in select blue-chip stocks.
Trading activity remained robust during the session, with volumes climbing to 1.03 billion shares from 761.9 million in the previous trading day. Market capitalization, however, reflected the pullback, sliding to N106.3 trillion across 51,227 deals, down from N106.7 trillion, showing that profit-taking tempered overall gains.
Among individual stocks, Nestle and NCR Nigeria led the gainers, rising 10% and 9.97% respectively, while McNichols and Caverton suffered significant losses of 9.99% and 9.47%. Sovereign Trust Insurance saw the highest trading activity with 245.1 million shares exchanged, followed by Access Holdings and Zenith Bank, highlighting pockets of intense investor focus.
Large-cap stocks, or SWOOTs, maintained a bearish trend with Nigerian Breweries down 2.33% and Aradel falling 5.11%, while top banking stocks, categorized as FUGAZ, experienced mixed results. UBA, GTCO, and Access Holdings recorded small declines, whereas First Holdco rose 4%, illustrating a rotation of market interest and selective optimism among investors.
Analysts say the session reflects a temporary pause in Nigeria’s recent market rally. While the nine-day streak has ended, high trading volumes and strategic gains in stocks like Nestle suggest that investor confidence remains intact in key counters. If selling pressure continues, it could present short-term buying opportunities for those looking to capitalize on market rotations.
source: nairametrics