Nigeria’s equities market reached a historic milestone on Monday as the benchmark index of the Nigerian Exchange Group climbed above the 201,000-point mark for the first time.
The NGX All-Share Index advanced by 1.55 per cent to close at 201,474.89 points, compared with 198,407.30 points recorded in the previous trading session.
In tandem with the index growth, the market capitalisation of the exchange rose from N127.360 trillion to N129.329 trillion, translating to a gain of about N1.97 trillion for investors.
The rally was largely supported by strong investor demand and gains across several key sectors of the market, reinforcing bullish sentiment among traders.
As a result, the market’s month-to-date return increased to 4.48 per cent, while the year-to-date return climbed to 29.47 per cent, reflecting continued positive momentum in the equities market.
Market breadth remained positive during the trading session, with 38 stocks posting gains compared with 30 that recorded losses, indicating widespread buying activity.
Among the top gainers, BUA Cement recorded a 10 per cent increase to close at N297 per share. Premier Paints followed with a 9.79 per cent rise to settle at N21.30, while John Holt Plc appreciated by 9.52 per cent to close at N10.35 per share.
Similarly, Guinea Insurance gained 9.38 per cent to close at N1.40, while Fortis Global Insurance rose by 9.32 per cent to finish the session at N1.29 per share.
On the losers’ chart, VFD Group recorded the steepest decline, falling by 10 per cent to close at N11.25 per share.
Other decliners included Royal Exchange, which dropped by 9.63 per cent to N1.69, while Omatek Ventures declined by 9.62 per cent to close at N2.35 per share.
Sovereign Trust Insurance also fell by nine per cent to N1.92, while Regency Alliance Insurance shed 8.94 per cent to settle at N1.12 per share.
Trading activity remained strong throughout the session as investors exchanged about 948.2 million shares valued at N49.17 billion across 72,735 deals.
Financial services stocks accounted for a significant share of the market activity by volume. Sovereign Trust Insurance led the volume chart with 72.56 million shares traded, representing 7.65 per cent of the day’s total volume.
By value, Zenith Bank topped the chart with transactions worth N5.96 billion, accounting for 12.11 per cent of the total market value traded.
Commenting on the milestone, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Exchange Group, Temi Popoola, described the development as an indication of rising confidence in the country’s capital market.
“Nigeria’s ongoing reforms are strengthening domestic capital formation, and the market is responding positively.
“Increased participation by local investors, improving corporate fundamentals, and continued market modernisation are reinforcing the role of the capital market as a catalyst for long-term wealth creation and sustainable economic growth.”
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Exchange Limited, Jude Chiemeka, attributed the new milestone to sustained demand and active investor participation across different sectors.
“Crossing the 200,000-point mark reflects strong investor engagement and consistent demand across key sectors.
“At the Nigerian Exchange Ltd., we remain focused on deepening market liquidity, enhancing trading infrastructure, and ensuring efficient price discovery to support a resilient and transparent marketplace.”
The latest achievement underscores the continued expansion of Nigeria’s equities market, which is drawing increased interest from both domestic and institutional investors.
