The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) opened the week on a positive note as the All-Share Index (ASI) gained 125.86 points to close at 145,880.77, representing a 0.09% rise from Friday’s 145,754.90. The market capitalization also inched higher to ₦92.3 trillion from ₦92.2 trillion, maintaining the bullish momentum that has driven year-to-date growth to 41.73%. STANBIC IBTC Holdings topped the gainers’ chart with a 10% increase to ₦111.10 per share. Other top performers included TIP at ₦13.20, UPDC at ₦8.69, SUNUASSUR at ₦5.50, and AIICO at ₦3.85 — all appreciating by the maximum daily limit of 10%. On the losers’ list, ABBEYBDS and ABCTRANS fell by 10% each, while UACN dropped 9.99%, HMCALL declined 9.92%, and VFDGROUP shed 9.70%. Trading activity saw 2.1 billion shares exchanged, down from 2.2 billion in the previous session. LINKASSURE led in volume with 703.5 million shares, followed by UNIVINSURE (230.5 million), AIICO (154.7 million), STERLINGNG (120.1 million), and VERITASKAP (74.5 million). In value terms, STANBIC dominated with ₦1.7 billion worth of trades, ahead of LINKASSURE (₦1.5 billion), ZENITHBANK (₦1.1 billion), ETI (₦1.08 billion), and STERLINGNG (₦987.7 million). Among the Stocks Worth Over One Trillion Naira (SWOOTs), BUA FOODS gained 2.28%, while LAFARGE lost 9.28%. TRANSPOWER declined 0.52%, International Breweries dropped 0.37%, and Nigerian Breweries eased 0.13%. In the FUGAZ banking group, ACCESSCORP rose 0.36%, while FIRSTHOLDCO, UBA, ZENITHBANK, and GTCO recorded marginal losses. Market analysts say the positive sentiment is underpinned by strong earnings results and stable macroeconomic indicators. With the ASI holding above the 145,000 mark, they project the possibility of further gains, though caution that profit-taking could trigger short-term pullbacks.
