The Nigerian stock market opened the trading week on a positive note on Monday, with investors adding ₦288 billion to market value despite a negative market breadth that reflected sustained profit-taking across several equities.
Market capitalisation rose by 0.18 per cent to close at ₦158.614 trillion, up from ₦158.326 trillion at the previous session’s close, while the All-Share Index (ASI) advanced by 446.85 points to settle at 245,283.68, compared to 244,836.83.
The latest rally further lifted the market’s year-to-date (YtD) return to 57.91 per cent, underscoring continued investor confidence in Nigerian equities.
However, the market closed with a negative breadth, as 39 stocks declined, outpacing the 25 gainers, indicating that gains in a few heavyweight stocks outweighed widespread losses.
Among the day’s top performers, Eterna Plc and Caverton Offshore Support Group gained the maximum 10 per cent each to close at ₦36.30 and ₦5.50 per share, respectively.
Omatek Ventures appreciated by 9.88 per cent to ₦1.78, while AVA Capital rose 9.70 per cent to ₦9.05. Vitafoam Nigeria also recorded a 7.90 per cent gain, closing at ₦194.00 per share.
On the flip side, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) led the losers’ chart after shedding 9.95 per cent to close at ₦80.10 per share.
Cadbury Nigeria declined by 9.92 per cent to ₦58.10, while Thomas Wyatt Nigeria fell 9.82 per cent to ₦3.95.
WAPIC Insurance lost 9.80 per cent to close at ₦2.30, and Critical Minerals Financing Corp dropped 9.79 per cent to ₦3.50 per share.
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Trading activity weakened during the session, with investors exchanging 923.01 million shares valued at ₦37.85 billion in 72,544 deals, representing a 2.12 per cent decline in volume compared to the previous trading day.
Access Holdings Plc emerged as the most actively traded stock by volume, accounting for 166.64 million shares, or 18.05 per cent of total shares traded.
Meanwhile, Aradel Holdings topped the value chart with transactions worth ₦4.59 billion, representing 12.12 per cent of the market’s total traded value.
Analysts said the market’s resilience, despite broad-based selling pressure, suggests that investors continue to position in fundamentally strong stocks amid expectations of improved corporate earnings and attractive dividend prospects.
