The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) began the week on a strong note as investor confidence drove the equity market to a remarkable gain of ₦1.78 trillion in market capitalisation, signaling growing optimism across sectors.
At the close of trading on Monday, the All-Share Index (ASI) rose by 2,808.71 points, representing a 1.99% increase, to settle at 144,071.76 points. Consequently, the market capitalisation soared to ₦91.2 trillion, marking one of the most significant single-day gains in recent months.
The latest surge reflects robust market momentum and investor optimism as the NGX continues its bullish trajectory. The Nigerian equity market has now recorded a weekly gain of 6.59%, a four-week gain of 19.08%, and an impressive year-to-date return of 39.98% — underlining its resilience amid local and global economic challenges.
Despite a 25% drop in trading volume and a 27% decline in turnover from the previous session, activity remained relatively strong with 811.09 million shares traded across 35,961 deals, valued at ₦19.47 billion. The number of deals also rose by 4%, indicating continued interest from retail and institutional investors.
Out of 127 listed equities that participated in the day’s trading, 47 stocks recorded gains, 23 declined, and 57 remained unchanged.
Leading the pack of gainers was UPDC, which appreciated by 10% to close at ₦5.94 per share. It was followed by Lasaco Assurance and Royal Exchange, both gaining 10% to close at ₦2.86 and ₦1.65 respectively. Other notable gainers included UAC of Nigeria, which rose by 9.97% to ₦97.10, and Sovereign Trust Insurance, which climbed 9.94% to close at ₦1.88.
On the losers’ end, Transcorp Power led with a 10% decline to ₦288.00, while Academy Press dropped by 10% to ₦9.90. John Holt and Total Nigeria also dipped by 9.59% and 9.22%, closing at ₦2.08 and ₦285.00 respectively.
In terms of volume, FCMB Group led with 84.95 million shares traded. Other high-volume movers included Universal Insurance (82.51m), Fidelity Bank (45.43m), Aiico Insurance (40.15m), and Veritas Kapital (39.77m).
In value, GTCO dominated the session with transactions worth ₦2.76 billion, followed by Zenith Bank (₦1.82bn), Dangote Cement (₦1.58bn), FCMB (₦979.42m), and Fidelity Bank (₦955.60m).
The market rally was reflected across major sectors. The NGX Industrial Index gained 5.72%, the NGX Consumer Goods Index climbed 4.93%, and the NGX Insurance Index rose by 3.44%. Additionally, the Premium Index advanced 2.51%, while the Main Board Index grew by 1.68%, indicating widespread investor participation across the board.
Analysts attribute the bullish sentiment to improved macroeconomic indicators, strengthened foreign exchange reserves, and increased institutional interest, particularly in blue-chip stocks. The Central Bank’s recent monetary tightening to rein in inflation and the federal government’s fiscal policy reforms have also helped bolster market confidence.
“Investors are responding positively to signs of policy stability, improved corporate earnings, and stronger oil prices,” said Ifeoma Adeniran, a Lagos-based equities analyst. “We’re also seeing a rotation into industrials and consumer goods, which signals long-term confidence in Nigeria’s domestic growth.”
With the ASI steadily climbing and market breadth showing strength, analysts forecast a continuation of the uptrend in the short term, barring any external shocks. However, they advise caution due to potential profit-taking as some stocks become overbought.
As of August 5, 2025, the NGX remains one of Africa’s top-performing exchanges — a reflection of investor resilience and growing optimism about Nigeria’s economic recovery.