By Seun Ibiyemi
Nigeria’s stock market reached a historic high on Monday as the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) All-Share Index crossed the 201,000-point threshold for the first time, signaling renewed investor confidence in the country’s equities market.
The benchmark index rose 1.55 per cent to close at 201,474.89 points, up from 198,407.30 in the previous session, while market capitalisation surged to N129.329 trillion, representing a N1.97 trillion gain.
The rally was fuelled by strong buying interest across multiple sectors, reflecting optimism about corporate performance and economic reforms.
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Key gainers included BUA Cement, which jumped 10 per cent to N297 per share, and Premier Paints, up 9.79 per cent at N21.30. On the downside, VFD Group fell 10 per cent to N11.25, highlighting selective profit-taking among investors.
Trading activity remained robust, with 948.2 million shares valued at N49.17 billion exchanged. Financial services stocks dominated the session, with Sovereign Trust Insurance recording the highest volume at 72.56 million shares and Zenith Bank leading in value at N5.96 billion.
Mr. Temi Popoola said the milestone underscores growing investor confidence. “The market’s performance reflects increased participation by local investors, improving corporate fundamentals, and ongoing reforms that are strengthening domestic capital formation,” he said.
Mr. Jude Chiemeka added that the crossing of the 200,000-point mark demonstrates sustained demand and engagement across key sectors.
“Our focus remains on deepening market liquidity, enhancing trading infrastructure, and ensuring efficient price discovery to support a resilient capital market,” he said.
With month-to-date returns at 4.48 per cent and year-to-date returns surging to 29.47 per cent, the record high highlights Nigeria’s equities market as a growing avenue for wealth creation and a key driver of economic growth.
