Nigerian equity investors secured approximately N1.17 trillion in gains across four trading sessions last week, driven by strong performances in the opening days of the fourth quarter and a positive close to the previous quarter.
The Nigerian Exchange Limited reported that market capitalisation rose from N89.960 trillion to N91.135 trillion during the period. The NGX All Share Index climbed 1.02 percent, closing at 143,584.04 points compared to 142,133.03 points recorded the week before.
Several major stocks contributed to the upward momentum. BUA Cement led the gainers with a 5.4 percent increase, while MTN Nigeria added 1.2 percent. GTCO and Transcorp both rose 3.1 percent, Transport gained 3.4 percent, and Aradel posted the strongest performance with a 16.1 percent surge.
Month-to-date returns stood at 0.6 percent, while year-to-date gains reached 39.5 percent. Trading activity showed mixed patterns, with volume increasing 9.4 percent week-on-week even as trading value dropped 76.6 percent over the same period.
Sectoral performance varied across the exchange. The Oil and Gas Index posted the strongest gain at 5.7 percent, followed by the Industrial Goods Index with 1.7 percent and the Banking Index with 1.2 percent. The Consumer Goods Index edged up 0.1 percent, while the Insurance Index declined 2.0 percent.
Cordros analysts anticipate cautious trading in the coming days due to limited market catalysts. They noted that investors may respond to sector-specific developments and individual company news that could shape market direction.
InvestData Consulting Limited observed that investors continue adjusting their portfolios ahead of third-quarter earnings season. The firm pointed to renewed buying interest in fundamentally strong stocks as traders prepare for potential market movements in the final quarter of 2025, supported by the country’s ongoing economic recovery and growth trajectory.
Looking ahead, InvestData expects trading sentiment to remain mixed as investors hunt for bargains and reposition their holdings before quarterly corporate results emerge. Market participants are closely monitoring the September consumer price index data, particularly following the Stanbic IBTC Purchasing Managers Index report that indicated rising output amid easing cost pressures.
