NGX Hits Historic High as Equity Investors Gain N1.87trn
The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) market capitalisation hits a historic high as equity investors gain N1.87 trillion in the early 2026 rally. The market delivered a 51.2% gain in 2025 on increased local participation.
Investors are staking bets on listed companies’ shares as the local bourse becomes a hedge against double-digit inflation and a wealth creation platform for investors.
The NGX All-Share Index climbed 1.74% to a historic high of 159,218.22 points. Market capitalization surged by ₦1.87 trillion, surpassing the ₦100 trillion milestone to reach ₦101.52 trillion, supported by the additional listing of 2.575 billion First Bank shares.
Investor sentiment remained robust at 10.42x, as 73 advancing stocks significantly outnumbered 7 decliners, led by CADBURY, CHAMPION, FIDSON, PZ, and WAPIC, while JULI, IKEJAHOTEL, SUNUASSUR, SOVRENINS, and BERGER recorded the steepest losses.
Sectoral performance was broadly positive, with insurance soaring BY 4.97% while the banking index jumped up by 4.71%. The Oil & Gas index edged higher by 2.75%, the Consumer Goods gained 2.06%, the Commodities sector was up by 1.59%, and Industrial stocks advanced 0.95%.
Trading activity presented a mixed picture: the number of deals and volume increased by 40.72% and 58.12% to 56,632 trades and 695.65 million units, respectively, while overall transaction value fell 25.65% to ₦18.57 billion, reflecting selective buying in high-volume stocks. CBN Spends $7.5 billion to Defend Nigerian Naira in 2025
