 gained N400bn in market capitalization as investor confidence surged, lifting the All-Share Index by 0.53%.){kind=link}
The Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) began the trading week on a bullish trajectory, recording a substantial gain of N400 billion in market capitalization. This rally was powered by rising investor confidence, increased trading activity, and renewed interest in growth-focused equities, particularly in the banking, consumer goods, and industrial sectors.
At the close of Monday’s session, the All-Share Index (ASI) climbed by 713.58 points or 0.53%, settling at 135,166.51, up from 134,452.93. This pushed the overall market capitalization to N85.5 trillion, reinforcing NGX’s position as one of Africa’s top-performing bourses in 2025.
The latest uptrend reflects not only macroeconomic optimism but also investor reactions to a series of strong Q2 earnings reports and expectations for improved policy direction in the second half of the year. Market analysts suggest that the momentum may continue if liquidity remains strong and inflationary pressures ease.
Out of the 127 listed equities that participated in the day’s trading, 45 stocks advanced, while 26 declined, indicating a widespread positive sentiment across sectors.
Academy Press Plc emerged as the top gainer of the day with a 9.99% jump, closing at N10.24 per share. Other major gainers included Champion Breweries (+9.98%), Tripple Gee (+9.97%), May & Baker Nigeria (+9.94%), and UACN (+9.92%). The UPDC Real Estate Investment Trust also recorded significant gains, appreciating by 9.88% to close at N9.45.
However, not all stocks participated in the bullish run. Livestock Feeds led the losers, shedding 10% to close at N8.10, followed by The Initiates Plc (-9.98%), Ellah Lakes (-9.08%), and NGX Group (-6.02%), which closed at N75.00.
Trading activity saw notable growth with a total of 795.59 million shares exchanged in 37,626 deals, valued at N23.23 billion. This represents an 11% increase in volume and a 51% rise in the number of deals, though the total turnover dipped slightly by 4% compared to the previous session.
Fidelity Bank led the volume chart with 123 million shares traded, amounting to N2.58 billion. Other high-volume stocks included FCMB (68.4 million shares), Japaul Gold (44.1 million shares), Zenith Bank (31 million shares), and Access Corporation (29 million shares).
In terms of value, Zenith Bank (N2.25bn), MTN Nigeria (N1.66bn), Okomu Oil (N1.60bn), and Dangote Cement (N1.48bn) followed Fidelity Bank in driving high-value trades.
Sector indices closed mostly positive, mirroring the general market sentiment:
Consumer Goods Index rose by 1.29%, now up 69.49% year-to-date.
Insurance Index gained 2.54%, bringing its YTD return to 28.23%.
Industrial Index advanced by 0.64%.
Premium Board and Main Board Indices added 0.58% and 0.50%, respectively.
NGX 30 Index, tracking top 30 capitalized companies, gained 0.44%.
These sectoral gains underscore the increasing investor appetite for stocks with strong fundamentals and solid dividend history, especially as companies release second-quarter financial results.
Market observers attribute the bullish mood to a combination of macroeconomic stability, relative FX market calm, and monetary policy clarity. Expectations that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will maintain a moderate policy stance while managing inflation have helped boost investor confidence.
With year-to-date returns now at 31.32%, and monthly growth at 12.64%, the Nigerian stock market continues to outperform regional peers, driven largely by domestic institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals seeking inflation-hedging assets.
As corporate earnings season progresses, analysts expect further price discovery, portfolio repositioning, and selective accumulation of undervalued stocks to shape trading activity.