Market Breathes Easy: 36 Gainers Lift NGX Amid Lower Deal Count

The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NGX) delivered a mixed performance on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, with notable shifts in trading volume, investor sentiment, and sectoral indices. For investors tracking market momentum and positioning for short- to mid-term opportunities, yesterday’s trading session offered both cautionary signals and pockets of optimism.

Trading volume stood at 659.16 million shares exchanged across 25,320 deals, totaling ₦12.5 billion in market value. This marked a sharp 30% decline in volume, turnover, and deal count compared to the previous day’s session, suggesting a temporary pullback in investor activity. Despite this contraction, the NGX All-Share Index (ASI) posted a modest gain of 401.36 points, closing at 139,796.11—up 0.29% for the day. This uptick reflects a weekly gain of 0.05%, a four-week decline of 4.17%, and a robust year-to-date appreciation of 35.82%.

Market breadth leaned positive, with 36 gainers against 19 losers out of 127 actively traded equities. Leading the gainers’ chart was Regency Alliance Insurance, which surged 10% to ₦1.43 per share. MeCure Industries followed closely with a 9.92% rise, while E-Tranzact International and Daar Communications posted gains of 9.73% and 9.57%, respectively. These movements suggest renewed interest in insurance and tech-adjacent sectors, possibly driven by earnings expectations or strategic positioning.

On the flip side, Unilever Nigeria led the decliners with a 9.79% drop to ₦63.15, signaling potential investor concerns over consumer goods margins or macroeconomic headwinds. FTN Cocoa Processors, Ellah Lakes, and Linkage Assurance also recorded significant losses, indicating sector-specific volatility that investors may need to monitor closely.

FCMB Group dominated trading activity with 202 million shares exchanged, followed by Universal Insurance Company (63.1 million), First HoldCo (44.2 million), and Regency Alliance Insurance (31 million). These volumes highlight continued investor interest in financial services and insurance stocks, possibly due to their liquidity and dividend potential.

Sectoral indices offered further insight into market dynamics. The NGX Insurance Index rose 0.98%, extending its weekly gain to 3.85% and an impressive year-to-date surge of 85.56%. The NGX Industrial Index climbed 0.85%, while the NGX Banking Index added 0.43%. These figures underscore the resilience of key sectors amid broader market fluctuations.

For investors, the current landscape presents a blend of opportunity and caution. The ASI’s upward movement, despite lower trading volumes, suggests underlying bullish sentiment. However, the decline in turnover and deal count may reflect profit-taking or hesitancy ahead of macroeconomic data releases or policy announcements.

Strategically, investors may consider rotating into sectors showing consistent index strength—such as insurance and industrials—while keeping a close eye on consumer goods for potential rebounds. Monitoring liquidity trends and earnings reports will be critical in navigating the next phase of market activity.

In summary, while Tuesday’s session reflected a slowdown in trading momentum, the NGX remains on a strong upward trajectory for the year. Investors should stay agile, informed, and diversified to capitalize on emerging trends and mitigate downside risks.