Equities market gains N110bn as YTD return climbs to 41.91%

The Nigerian equities market advanced on Tuesday, with investors’ year-to-date return rising to 41.91 per cent as renewed bargain hunting in financial, consumer goods, and industrial stocks boosted market capitalisation by N110 billion to N92.41 trillion.

The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) All Share Index added 0.12 per cent to close at 146,055.89 points, reflecting sustained optimism over corporate earnings and market fundamentals.

Strong buying interest in stocks such as FCMB, VFD Group, UBA, Ecobank, United Capital, AIICO Insurance, AXA Mansard, NEM Insurance, Julius Berger, Lafarge Africa, and Transcorp Plc drove the session’s gains.

Market breadth remained positive, with 49 gainers outpacing 29 losers, signalling strong investor sentiment despite profit-taking pressures.

Trading activity was mixed as total volume traded fell by 39.63 per cent to 1.28 billion units, while total value rose by 25.03 per cent to N24.25 billion across 31,155 deals. LASACO led in volume with 8.40 per cent of total trades, followed by JAPAULGOLD (8.38 per cent), STERLINGNG (7.67 per cent), AIICO (5.09 per cent), and ACCESSCORP (4.79 per cent). In value terms, GTCO topped the chart with 10.85 per cent of total turnover.

Top gainers included ABCTRANS, PRESTIGE, TIP, WAPIC, CHAMPION, ELLAHLAKES, MANSARD, and SUNUASSUR, each appreciating by 10.00 per cent, with Julius Berger close behind at +9.99 per cent.

Conversely, JULI led the losers’ chart with a -10.00 per cent drop, followed by UNILEVER (-9.97 per cent), MAYBAKER (-7.69 per cent), AFRIPRUD (-4.79 per cent), CAP (-4.05 per cent), and OANDO (-1.89 per cent).

Sector performance was mixed, with Insurance (+9.12 per cent) and Industrial Goods (+0.86 per cent) posting gains, while Banking (-0.22 per cent), Consumer Goods (-0.47 per cent), and Oil & Gas (-0.19 per cent) closed negative.

The commodities sector ended flat, as overall market activity moderated with the number of deals and traded volume declining by 22.95 per cent and 39.63 per cent, respectively.