NGX stock index advance 0.44% as investors gained N389.53bn,

NGX All Share Index (ASI) advanced by 0.44%, to close at 202,584.88 points. Consequently, the year-to-date return climbed to 30.19% from the 29.82% recorded in yesterday’s session.

Market capitalisation also gained N389.53bn, to settle at N130.40trn. The market performance was largely driven by buy interest in SEPLAT (+4.95%), NGXGROUP (+3.65%), and ZENITH (+5.83%), outweighing sell pressure in CADBURY (-4.32%), WAPCO (-1.40%), and PZ (-3.61%).

Market activity was mixed, with transaction volume declining by 3.43%, while the total value advanced by 8.68%. ACCESSCORPS (0.00%) led the volume and value chart with 232.98mn units of trade and N6.06bn worth of transactions respectively.

Market breadth closed negative at 0.46x, reflecting more decliners than advancers.  UNIVINSURE (+10.00%) led the Eighteen (18) gainers, while UPDCREIT (-10.00%) topped the thirty-eight (38) laggards, and the remaining stocks closing flat.

Assets management companies have reported that the Nigerian equities market closed marginally higher in the latest trading session, with the Index advancing by 0.28%, lifting the year-to-date return to 30.19%.

“Market activity presented a mixed picture, as trading volume declined by 12.74%, indicating relatively weaker investor participation” the report said .

According to the report “In contrast, total trade value edged up by 0.82%, suggesting the presence of selective, high-value transactions.

“In terms of price performance, UNIVINSURE and OMATEK emerged as the session’s top gainers. On the other hand, FTGINSURE led the decliners followed by DEAPCAP.

“For sectoral performance, financial services  continued to dominate market activity. This was evidenced by strong participation in banking stocks, with WEMABANK leading in trade value and ACCESSCORP recording the highest trading volume. Conversely, the insurance, consumer goods, and industrial goods sectors experienced bearish pressure.

“On the corporate actions front, several notable disclosures were recorded from UNILEVER, DANGCEM, CONHALLPLC, while NREIT published its audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025. Most of the affected stocks closed flat, while CONHALLPLC recorded a gain of 5.96% during the session.
 
“Today, interbank rates reversed their recent decline as O/N rose by 6bps to close at 22.31%. Meanwhile, activity in the local bond market was relatively muted, except for the sharp yield increase seen on the 2027 maturities, which rose by about 160bps, compared with the marginal yield decline recorded on the 2033 paper.

“In the Treasury bills market, positive interest reversed yesterday’s bearish sentiment as average yield contracted by 4.3bps. Most of the decline was concentrated on the 2027 maturities, where yields fell by an average of 13.4bps, compared with nearly 1bp across other maturities.

“In the Eurobond market, however, the rally extended further across the curve, with average yield declining by 24bps, compared with less than half of that recorded yesterday.  

“More specifically, average yield on the 2030 maturities shed 28bps, against 20bps on the longer-dated papers. This further pushed the prices of most tenors on the curve above par.

“The Naira weakened slightly with USD/NGN rising 0.4% to close at ₦1,387. The pair is up 0.4% month-to-date but remains down 2.9% year-to-date.  EUR/NGN and GBP/NGN rose by nearly 1%, settling at ₦1,606 and ₦1,839, respectively.

“Meanwhile, foreign reserves extended their decline, falling to $48.94 billion despite supportive conditions in the commodities market.

“Brent crude plunged 14.3% to $94.77 per barrel after President Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran, raising hopes of an imminent reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and a potential easing of severe supply disruptions from the ongoing conflict.”