The Nigerian Exchange Limited sustained its positive run on Wednesday, adding N20bn to market value and closing with a total capitalisation of N93.8tn.
The All-Share Index inched up by 31.24 points, or 0.02 per cent, to 147,742.20, showing investors’ continued confidence despite reduced trading activity.
Market data showed 388.93 million shares worth N12.36bn exchanged in 22,986 deals, representing a 21 per cent fall in volume and a 29 per cent drop in value compared to the previous session.
Of the 127 listed stocks traded, 33 gained while 28 declined. Skye Shelter Fund led the gainers’ chart, rising 9.88 per cent to N418.75 per share. Royal Exchange followed with a 7.37 per cent increase to N2.33, while International Energy Insurance and Julius Berger gained 6.05 per cent and 5.51 per cent to close at N2.98 and N134, respectively.
Tripple Gee topped the losers’ list with a 9.91 per cent decline to N4.91. Industrial and Medical Gases fell 9.87 per cent to N32.40, while UAC of Nigeria and Ellah Lakes dropped 6.46 per cent and 4.66 per cent to close at N68 and N13.30 per share, respectively.
Fidelity Bank recorded the highest trading volume at 46.9 million shares worth N942.31m, followed by Chams with 24.8 million shares valued at N101.42m. Zenith Bank traded 20.8 million shares worth N1.42bn, while Access Holdings moved 19.2 million shares valued at N495.35m.
By value, Zenith Bank led with N1.42bn, trailed by Nigerian Breweries with N1.27bn, Fidelity Bank with N942.31m, GTCO with N869.05m, and Stanbic IBTC with N723.52m.
Sector performance was mostly positive. The NGX Top 30 Index gained 0.07 per cent, while the Consumer Goods, Pension, and Industrial indices rose 0.09 per cent, 0.09 per cent, and 0.08 per cent, respectively. The Premium Index also advanced by 0.04 per cent, boosted by renewed interest in banking and industrial stocks.
So far, the market has gained 1.39 per cent in one week, 4.38 per cent in four weeks, and 43.54 per cent year-to-date. Analysts said the steady growth reflects strong fundamentals, driven by third-quarter earnings expectations and institutional investor positioning.
