BUA Cement, Zenith Bank top gainers’ chart as stock market capitalisation hits N129trn in one week

The Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) closed the week on a positive note, with the All-Share Index (ASI) and market capitalisation rising by 1.39 per cent to 201,156.86 points and N129.126 trillion, respectively.

This compares with 198,407.30 points and N127.361 trillion recorded in the previous week.

As a result, investors gained N1.765 trillion during the week, which had three trading sessions following public holidays declared for the Eid-el-Fitr celebration.

Sectoral performance was broadly positive, with most indices closing higher.

However, the NGX Insurance, NGX AFR Div Yield, NGX Consumer Goods, NGX Oil and Gas, NGX Lotus II and NGX Commodity indices declined by 0.42 per cent, 2.34 per cent, 0.10 per cent, 4.78 per cent, 2.76 per cent and 4.91 per cent, respectively, while the NGX Sovereign Bond Index closed flat.

A turnover of 8.761 billion shares worth N267.253 billion was traded in 193,473 deals, compared with 3.321 billion shares valued at N164.845 billion exchanged in 318,907 deals in the previous week.

The ICT sector led the activity chart with 5.330 billion shares valued at N46.825 billion traded in 21,573 deals, contributing 60.84 per cent and 17.52 per cent to total volume and value, respectively.

The financial services sector followed with 2.765 billion shares worth N95.892 billion in 75,103 deals, while the consumer goods sector recorded 174.484 million shares valued at N20.805 billion in 20,693 transactions.

Trading in the top three equities, E-Tranzact International Plc, FCMB Group Plc, and Wema Bank Plc, accounted for 6.084 billion shares valued at N40.661 billion in 5,570 deals.

This represents 69.44 per cent and 15.21 per cent of total equity turnover volume and value, respectively.

Stock market reverses bullish run as investors lose N900bn

The top gainers for the week were John Holt, BUA Cement, Premier Paints, Zenith Bank and Learn Africa, which appreciated by N2.40, N56.70, N4.00, N14.05, and N1.10, respectively.

On the losers’ chart, Zichis Agro-Allied Industries, Presco, Daar Communications, Eterna, and Red Star Express recorded declines of N8.78, N382.80, 29k, N5.40, and N2.85, respectively.

The Exchange also announced the listing of NGX30U6 and NGXPENSIONU6 futures contracts on Monday, March 16.

296,464 units of the Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund (NIDF) were listed on the Daily Official List of the NGX on Tuesday, March 17.

The additional units arose from the Fund’s 2025 fourth-quarter scrip dividend, increasing its total units from 1,196,357,953 to 1,196,654,417.

The Star