The reversal disrupted Tuesday’s ₦94bn gain, which had brought a temporary end to six consecutive sessions of losses. Yet, despite the pullback, the session delivered a relatively balanced market mood. Market breadth closed positive, with 29 gainers outpacing 27 laggards, suggesting that investor sentiment remained mixed rather than broadly bearish.
The top-performing equities of the day included AIICO, which posted a full 10% gain, followed closely by NCR (+9.96%) and Ikeja Hotel (+9.41%). On the other end of the spectrum, Learn Africa fell by 10%, taking the sharpest hit among laggards, while UPDC (-8.83%) and International Breweries (-8.33%) also continued to struggle.
Trading activity showed renewed momentum. Total volume surged by 32.8% to 738.4 million units, while trade value jumped by 89.9% to ₦35.5bn, highlighting strong investor participation. Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) remained a central driver of activity, leading both the volume and value charts with 134.1 million units traded and ₦11.6bn in transaction value.
Across sectors, performance was mixed. The Insurance Index was the standout performer, rising 2.66%, supported by modest gains in the Banking (+0.24%) and Oil & Gas (+0.17%) sectors. Meanwhile, the Industrial index fell 2.03%, reflecting the impact of declines in major cement stocks, and the Consumer Goods index weakened by 1.33%. The Commodity Index closed the session unchanged.
Overall, the day’s movement reflected a market navigating pockets of profit-taking, sector-specific pressure, and selective investor interest—leaving room for both caution and opportunity as trading continues through the week.