Equity market opens year with N155bn gain

The equity market began 2025 on a positive note, with the Nigerian Exchange recording a gain of N155bn as the All Share Index appreciated by 0.25 per cent.

The index closed at 103,180.14 points, up from 102,926.40, marking year-to-date, month-to-date, and week-to-date gains of 0.25 per cent, 0.25 per cent, and 1.02 per cent, respectively.

Also, the market capitalisation also rose to N62.918tn, resulting in an aggregate of 829.75m unit shares traded in 11,752 deals valued at N5.67bn.

The market breadth was positive, with 58 equities recording gains against 8 decliners.

Leading the gainers, National Cash Register, RT Briscoe, Cutix, International Energy Insurance plc, and Mansard all appreciated by 10.00 per cent, closing at N5.50, N2.75, N2.53, N1.87, and N9.02, respectively.

On the decliners’ list, Ellah Lakes led with a 4.75 per cent drop to close at N3.01, followed by NASCON and CWG, which fell by 4.31 per cent and 3.25 per cent to close at N30.00 and N7.45, respectively.

In terms of trading volume, Royal Exchange led the pack with 290.99m shares worth N318.64m, followed by Chams with 63.68m shares and AIICO with 58.60m shares.

For value traded, Zenith Bank dominated with trades worth N680.67m, while Access Corporation and UBA followed, recording N430.78m and N415.66m in value traded, respectively.

Additionally, sub-indices also posted performances, with the Insurance Index leading the way, rising by 9.5 per cent year-to-date and 22.23 per cent for the week. The Main Board Index increased by 0.3 per cent year-to-date and 1.51 per cent for the week. The Consumer Goods Index gained 0.16 per cent year-to-date and 2.27 per cent for the week.

Although the Banking Index saw a one-week decline of 0.68 per cent, it still closed 0.27 per cent higher year-to-date.

The PUNCH reported that the Nigerian Exchange Limited has recorded growth in the 2020s, breaking away from the challenges of the 2015–2019 period. The NGX All-Share Index has surged by 283.45 per cent since 2020, rising from 26,842.07 points at the end of 2019 to 102,926.40 points as of December 2024.