Investors pulled back on Thursday, cutting N32 billion from the Nigerian stock market after two straight sessions of gains. Market capitalisation slipped by N32 billion, a 0.02% fall, to close at N156.207 trillion from N156.239 trillion recorded on Wednesday, reflecting a more cautious mood among traders.
The decline also showed up in the benchmark. The All-Share Index dropped by 221.14 points, or 0.09%, to finish at 242,145.61, down from 242,366.75 in the previous session.
Quick facts
- Market capitalisation fell by N32 billion (down 0.02%) to N156.207 trillion.
- All-Share Index declined by 221.14 points (down 0.09%) to 242,145.61.
- Year-to-date return stayed positive at 55.61%.
- Market breadth: 27 gainers and 22 losers.
- Trading volume rose 4.64% to 498.45 million shares.
- Total value traded was N34.87 billion across 39,484 deals.
- Ja Paul Gold led volume with 77.66 million shares (15.58% of total volume).
- Seplat led value traded with N13.19 billion (37.82% of total value).
Despite the day’s dip, performance since the start of the year remained firmly in positive territory, with the year-to-date return holding at 55.61%. Market breadth stayed relatively balanced in favour of buyers, with 27 advancing stocks against 22 declining ones.
Among the laggards, Eunisell Interlinked recorded the steepest drop, sliding 10% to close at N189. BUA Cement followed, down 9.99% to N275.60 per share. Chemical and Allied Products, Royal Exchange and Guinea Insurance also fell, dropping by 9.61 cent, 9.55% and 5.38 cent respectively.
On the gainers’ side, First Holding Company topped the list, rising 9.96% to end the session at N87.25. McNicholas gained 8% to close at N5.40, while UBA improved by 7.93%.
Activity picked up during the session. Total traded volume increased by 4.64% to 498.45 million shares, with deals totaling 39,484 and value traded reaching N34.87 billion.
Ja Paul Gold was the volume leader, with 77.66 million shares exchanged—about 15.58% of the day’s total share volume—signalling renewed participation from investors. Seplat, meanwhile, attracted the most value, with transactions worth N13.19 billion, representing 37.82% of total value traded on Thursday.
