Trading activities on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) closed the week on a positive note, as investors exchanged 3.64 billion shares valued at N220.56 billion across the market, reflecting increased buying interest and stronger transaction value compared with the previous week.
According to the NGX weekly market report, the value of transactions rose by 42.9 per cent over the five trading sessions when compared with the previous week's turnover of 3.821 billion shares worth N154.39 billion executed in 258,567 deals.
The report showed that the market's positive momentum lifted total market capitalisation by 6.35 per cent to N156.44 trillion, while the All-Share Index (ASI) appreciated by the same margin to close at 243,798.76 basis points.
Financial Services Sector Dominates Trading Activity
The financial services sector remained the major driver of market activity during the week, accounting for the largest share of transactions by both volume and value.
Investors traded 2.89 billion shares worth N147.36 billion in 106,603 deals within the sector. The NGX stated that financial services contributed 79.48 per cent of total equity turnover volume and 66.81 per cent of total equity turnover value.
The services sector ranked second on the activity chart, with 164.91 million shares valued at N3.61 billion traded across 16,375 deals.
Consumer goods companies followed closely, recording transactions involving 157.45 million shares worth N7.77 billion in 27,950 deals.
First Holdco, Zenith Bank, Fidelity Bank Lead Volume Chart
The NGX identified First Holdco Plc, Zenith Bank Plc and Fidelity Bank Plc as the most actively traded equities by volume during the week.
The three companies collectively accounted for 1.74 billion shares valued at N121.82 billion in 31,053 deals, representing 47.85 per cent of total equity turnover volume and 55.23 per cent of turnover value.
International Breweries Leads Weekly Gainers
International Breweries Plc emerged as the best-performing stock among the gainers during the week after its share price climbed by N3.80, rising from N9.50 to N13.30 per share.
The movement represented a 40 per cent gain and placed the company at the top of the gainers' table.
RT Briscoe Plc followed with a 32.02 per cent appreciation, as its share price increased by N3.25 from N10.15 to N13.40.
Livestock Feeds Plc also recorded a strong performance, gaining N2.05 to close at N9.25 per share compared with N7.20 at the beginning of the week.
Other notable gainers included First Holdco Plc, which added N14.20 to rise from N55 to N69.20 per share, and Abbey Mortgage Bank Plc, whose share price advanced by N1.75 to close at N9.15 from N7.40.
McNichols, Geregu Power Lead Losers' Chart
Despite the broader market gains, some stocks recorded declines during the week.
McNichols Plc recorded the largest loss among the listed equities, declining by N2 to close at N5 per share from N7, representing a 28.57 per cent drop.
Thomas Wyatt Nigeria Plc also declined by N0.32, closing at N2.43 from N2.75.
Geregu Power Plc recorded a significant price reduction, falling by N91.70 to close the week at N825.70 per share compared with N917.40 at the start of trading.
Other decliners included CAP Plc, whose share price fell from N175.10 to N157.60, and Guinness Nigeria Plc, which shed N36.50 to close at N329 per share from N365.50.
The week's performance reflected renewed investor activity on the NGX, supported largely by strong participation in banking stocks and gains recorded across key sectors, although market sentiment remained mixed as investors repositioned their portfolios.