NGX Opens Week with Stronger Trading Activity

The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NGX) began the week on a strong footing, recording notable improvements in trading activity compared to the previous session. At the close of trading, a total of 762,729,316 shares were exchanged in 55,335 deals, corresponding to a market value of ₦18.4 billion. This represented an 11 percent increase in volume, a 23 percent rise in turnover, and a 33 percent improvement in the number of deals compared to Friday, January 30. The market capitalization stood at ₦106.2 trillion, underscoring the depth of activity in the market.

In total, 131 listed equities participated in trading, with 29 recording gains and 44 posting losses. Premier Paints led the gainers with a 10 percent appreciation to close at ₦11.00 per share. Universal Insurance Company also gained 10 percent, while Daar Communications and RT Briscoe rose by 9.93 percent and 9.92 percent respectively. On the losing side, Omatek Ventures shed 10 percent to close at ₦2.70 per share, followed by Union Homes Real Estate Investment, which declined by 9.96 percent. AXA Mansard Insurance fell by 9.94 percent, while Deap Capital Management & Trust dropped 9.9 percent.

Market activity was driven by high-volume trades, with Tantalizers recording the largest volume of 88.5 million shares. Zenith Bank followed with 40.2 million shares, Veritas Kapital Assurance with 39.2 million, and Universal Insurance Company with 29.3 million. These figures highlight the dominance of financial and consumer-focused stocks in driving liquidity during the session.

The benchmark NGX All-Share Index (ASI) edged up slightly by 14.24 points, representing a 0.01 percent increase, to close at 165,384.64. Despite this modest gain, the index reflected a one-week loss of 0.08 percent, a four-week gain of 3.87 percent, and a year-to-date appreciation of 6.28 percent. Other indices showed mixed performances. The NGX Top 30 Index rose by 0.04 percent, posting a year-to-date gain of 5.44 percent. The NGX Oil and Gas Index advanced by 2 percent, reflecting a strong one-week gain of 2.09 percent and a year-to-date rise of 16.07 percent, underscoring the sector’s resilience. The NGX Main Board Index climbed 0.26 percent, while the NGX Pension Index added 0.22 percent, though it recorded a slight weekly decline. The NGX Industrial Index slipped by 0.08 percent, while the NGX Consumer Goods Index fell by 0.37 percent, reflecting sector-specific pressures.

Overall, the session demonstrated cautious optimism among investors, with gains in oil and gas stocks providing momentum while consumer goods and industrial counters faced mild declines. Analysts suggest that the improved liquidity, coupled with rising external reserves and stable oil receipts, could support continued resilience in the market. The upward trend in turnover and deals also points to growing investor confidence, even as the market navigates short-term volatility.