Lagos, Nigeria – The Nigerian All-Share Index recorded its first loss of the week on February 24, 2026, shedding 1,779 points to close at 194,484.6, as profit-taking in BUA Foods and other large-cap stocks pulled the market lower.
Okay News reports that the index slipped below both the 196,000 and 195,000 psychological levels, dragging year-to-date returns down from 26.12 percent to 24.98 percent. Despite the decline, trading activity stayed firm with 1.13 billion shares exchanged across 72,218 deals, reflecting sustained investor participation. Market capitalization settled at N124.8 trillion, dipping below the N125 trillion mark.
Aradel Holdings led the value chart with N14.2 billion in traded shares, followed by Zenith Bank with N6.1 billion, MTN Nigeria with N3.5 billion, Guaranty Trust Holding Company with N3.38 billion, and Dangote Cement with N3.3 billion. By volume, Japaul Gold led with 102.4 million shares traded, ahead of Access Holdings with 97.8 million, Fortis Global with 75.1 million, Zenith Bank with 67.6 million, and FCMB Group with 46.3 million.
On the gainers’ chart, buying interest remained selective. Jaiz Bank led the advance with a 10.00 percent rise, followed by Infinity Mortgage Bank with 9.83 percent, FCMB with 9.72 percent, Fortis Global Insurance with 9.09 percent, and Sterling Financial Holdings with 7.50 percent. On the losers’ side, Tantalizers and DAAR Communications both shed 10 percent to top the decliners, followed by BUA Foods with 9.99 percent, Ellah Lakes with 9.96 percent, and RT Briscoe with 9.95 percent.
Among SWOOTs stocks with market capitalisation above N1 trillion, performance was mixed but largely tilted to the downside. Dangote Cement led the gainers up 3.7 percent, while Wema Bank rose 0.56 percent and Lafarge Africa added 0.48 percent. On the downside, BUA Foods fell 9.99 percent, Stanbic IBTC Holdings declined 5.35 percent, and MTN Nigeria dropped 2.56 percent. In the FUGAZ banking segment, sentiment was broadly negative, with United Bank for Africa declining 1.41 percent and First Holdco slipping 0.36 percent. Zenith Bank advanced 4.55 percent, and Access Holdings gained 4.45 percent.
The Nigerian Exchange paused its bullish streak as most SWOOTs retreated, ending a four-session run of gains. Investors appear to be reassessing further moves after the All-Share Index breached the 195,000 mark. The market is currently overbought, but continued strength in select large-cap stocks could still push prices higher. The heavy trading volume in Aradel and other counters suggests sustained investor interest despite the pullback. Sustained trading volume in key stocks will determine whether the market resumes its upward trajectory or enters a consolidation phase.
