Equity
NGX Opens Week with 28,598 Deals; Royal Exchange and Secure Tech Lead Gainers

The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) kicked off the week with a paradoxical performance on Monday, September 22, 2025—marked by a surge in trading activity but a slight retreat in overall market value. Investors executed 28,598 deals involving 488.5 million shares, pushing total turnover to ₦13.71 billion. This represented a 13% increase in volume, 2% rise in value, and an impressive 18% jump in deal count compared to the previous trading session.
Despite this bullish trading momentum, the NGX All-Share Index (ASI) slipped by 347.10 points to close at 141,498.22, reflecting a 0.24% decline. This modest drop translated to a weekly loss of 0.11%, although the index still boasts a 0.35% gain over the past month and a robust 37.48% year-to-date growth. The ASI, a key barometer of market sentiment, tracks the performance of all listed equities and offers a snapshot of investor confidence across sectors.
Sectoral indices painted a mixed picture. The NGX Top 30 Index fell 0.22%, while the NGX Premium Index eked out a 0.02% gain. The NGX Industrial Index remained flat, and the NGX Insurance Index dipped 0.08%, weighed down by a sharp 4.53% weekly loss. The NGX Banking Index declined 0.25%, and the NGX Main Board Index dropped 0.39%, despite a weekly uptick of 0.35%. Notably, the NGX Insurance Index continues to lead the pack with a staggering 73.83% year-to-date gain, underscoring investor appetite for insurance stocks amid broader economic uncertainty.
On the equities leaderboard, Royal Exchange emerged as the top gainer, surging 9.8% to close at ₦2.24 per share. Secure Electronic Technology followed with a 6.67% rise, while Chams and Prestige Assurance added 6.13% and 5.75%, respectively. These gains were likely driven by renewed investor interest and positive sentiment surrounding their recent corporate disclosures.
Conversely, McNichols led the losers with a 10% plunge to ₦3.33, trailed by Ikeja Hotel (-9.8%), FTN Cocoa Processors (-8.33%), and Nigerian Breweries (-7.64%). The sharp declines in these stocks may reflect profit-taking, weak earnings outlooks, or sector-specific headwinds.
In terms of volume, Universal Insurance dominated the charts with 79.6 million shares traded, followed by Zenith Bank (58.6 million), Nigerian Breweries (32.5 million), and United Bank for Africa (32 million). These high-volume trades suggest strong liquidity and continued investor engagement in financial and consumer sectors.
Overall, while the NGX experienced a slight dip in its benchmark index, the surge in trading activity signals a vibrant and resilient market. Investors appear to be repositioning portfolios, capitalizing on short-term opportunities while keeping an eye on long-term growth. With sectoral indices showing divergent trends and select stocks outperforming, the market remains dynamic—offering both caution and optimism in equal measure.