NGX Posts N5.51 Trillion Weekly Gain as Equity Cap Hits N145.355 Trillion

Nigeria’s equities market continued its strong upward momentum for a fourth straight week, supported by broad gains across major sectors that amounted to N5.51 trillion weekly gain for investors.

The NGX All-Share Index advanced by 3.94% to close at 225,722.49 points, compared with 217,167.57 points the previous week. This pushed total market capitalization to approximately N145.335 trillion, reflecting sustained investor appetite and improved sentiment across listed equities.

On the corporate side, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc has proposed a rights issue involving 8.10 billion ordinary shares at N60 per share.

The offer allows existing shareholders to subscribe on the basis of two new shares for every three held, as part of efforts to strengthen its balance sheet and support future expansion plans.

In a structural development for the market, the Nigerian Exchange Limited has approved an extension of trading hours, effective April 27, 2026. The trading session will now run from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm instead of the previous 9:30 am to 2:30 pm schedule, giving investors a longer window for market activity and improving overall liquidity.

Overall, the market remains firmly bullish, supported by rising index levels, active corporate fundraising, and operational reforms aimed at deepening trading efficiency and participation.

Sectoral performance on the NGX All-Share Index was broadly positive, with all major indices closing higher, supported by strong gains in blue-chip stocks. Forty-six equities advanced, led by UACN (+42.00%), NASCON (+32.63%), CAP (+24.74%), WAPCO (+21.36%), PZ (+18.81%), FIRSTHOLDCO (+17.19%), and UNILEVER (+17.13%), alongside gains in major banks such as UBA, ZENITHBANK, and GTCO.

Fifty-three stocks declined, led by STANBIC (-13.82%), TRANSPOWER (-9.97%), FIDSON (-4.90%), and CWG (-4.55%), reflecting selective profit-taking across financial and industrial names. Overall, market sentiment remained strongly bullish, driven by broad-based gains despite pockets of weakness.

A total turnover of 3.81 billion shares worth N213.96 billion in 297,202 deals was traded this week by investors on the floor of the Exchange, in contrast to a total of 3.59 billion shares valued at N195.31 billion that exchanged hands last week in 254,553 deals.

The Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 2.74 billion shares valued at N106.27 billion traded in 135,101 deals; thus contributing 71.99% and 49.67% to the total equity turnover volume and value, respectively.

The Services Industry followed with 212.32 million shares worth N4.02 billion in 17,042 deals. Third place was the Consumer Goods Industry, with a turnover of 180.08 million shares worth N13.27 billion in 32,457 deals.