The Nigerian stock market reversed the negative trend witnessed in the previous two trading sessions, recording a gain of N649bn on Thursday.
The All-Share Index rose by 1,010.22 points, representing an increase of 0.52 per cent to close at 196,908.76 points. Market capitalisation gained N649bn to close at N126.399tn.
The upturn was driven by gains in medium and large-cap stocks, including Transcorp Hotels, BUA Cement, Fidson Healthcare, CAP, and Guinness Nigeria.
Of the 132 traded stocks, 30 advanced, 30 declined, and 62 closed unchanged, indicating a mixed market breadth. FTN Cocoa Processors recorded the highest price gain of 10 per cent to close at N6.27 per share.
Fidson Healthcare followed with a gain of 9.97 per cent to close at N105.35, while DEAP Capital Management & Trust was up by 9.89 per cent to close at N7.00 per share.
Caverton Offshore Support Group rose 9.40 per cent to close at N6.40, while Livestock Feeds appreciated 9.30 per cent to close at N7.05 per share.
On the other hand, Eterna and Omatek Ventures led the losers’ chart with a 10 per cent decline each, closing at N42.30 and N2.52, respectively. SCOA Nigeria followed with a decline of 9.94 per cent to close at N22.65 per share.
Fortis Global Insurance depreciated 9.24 per cent to close at N1.08, while Sovereign Trust Insurance declined 9.09 per cent to close at N2.10 per share.
Meanwhile, the total volume traded declined by 25.84 per cent to 549.781 million units, valued at N44.736bn across 55,465 deals. Transactions in the shares of Fortis Global Insurance topped the activity chart with 32.182 million shares valued at N34.775m.
Access Holdings followed with 28.124 million shares worth N700.986m, while First Holdco traded 27.722 million shares valued at N1.385bn.
Zenith Bank traded 27.483 million shares valued at N2.559bn, while Dangote Cement saw 26.893 million shares worth N20.671bn traded.
Regarding market performance, Imperial Asset Managers Limited stated, “Overall, the session reflects a return of investor confidence, supported by selective accumulation of fundamentally strong stocks amid a positive macroeconomic environment and above-par corporate earnings released so far for the 2025 full-year season.”
