Investors lose grip as Stock Market value plunges 25.8%

By Taiye Olayemi

The Nigerian Stock Market closed the week on a bearish note, as total transaction value dropped by 25.8 per cent week-on-week.

According to trading data, investors at the Stock Market exchanged 3.199 billion shares worth ₦85.40 billion in 142,477 deals during the week, compared with 4.773 billion shares valued at ₦107.43 billion in 152,965 deals recorded in the previous week.

The Financial Services Industry maintained its dominance on the activity chart, accounting for 68.61 per cent of the total equity turnover volume and 49.99 per cent of the value. A total of 2.195 billion shares worth ₦42.69 billion were traded in 66,808 deals within the sector.

It was followed by the Consumer Goods Industry, which saw 277.88 million shares valued at ₦9.91 billion traded in 15,518 deals, while the Services Industry placed third with 178.99 million shares worth ₦1.31 billion in 7,580 transactions.

The top three equities-FCMB Group Plc, Champion Breweries Plc, and Access Holdings Plc, were responsible for 778.60 million shares valued at ₦13.16 billion in 11,288 deals, contributing 24.34 per cent and 15.40 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

Market indicators also reflected the bearish trend. The NGX All-Share Index fell by 0.50 per cent to close at 140,295.50 points, while Market Capitalisation depreciated by 0.49 per cent to ₦88.77 trillion.

Sectoral performance showed that all indices ended lower, except the NGX AFR Div Yield Index which gained 0.94 per cent, while the NGX ASeM Index closed flat.

Investor sentiment was mixed, as 32 equities appreciated in price, compared to 43 in the previous week. Meanwhile, 57 equities declined, up from 54 a week earlier, while another 57 remained unchanged.

The week’s top gainers were McNichols Plc (+18.75%), NEM Insurance Plc (+17.29%), Berger Paints Plc (+15.31%), Coronation Insurance Plc (+12.77%), and Learn Africa Plc (+11.43%).

On the flip side, Secure Electronic Technology Plc (-25k), Guinea Insurance Plc (-35k), Lasaco Assurance Plc (-46k), University Press Plc (-76k), and Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc (-50k) emerged as the biggest losers.

On the primary market side, the NGX reported new listings. These included an additional 270,382 units of Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund (NIDF), arising from its Q2 2025 scrip dividend, increasing the fund size to 1.056 billion units. Similarly, 87.9 million units of Coronation Infrastructure Fund, issued at ₦100 each under a ₦200 billion programme, were also listed.

Meanwhile, Industrial & Medical Gases Nigeria Plc commenced its rights issue of 199.8 million ordinary shares at ₦32.00 per share on the basis of two new shares for every five held as of May 21.

The NGX also announced the supplementary listing of additional Federal Government of Nigeria Bonds issued in May 2025, which were admitted to trading on August 27.