Equities hit new heights as ASI surges by 1.65%

The Nigerian equities market maintained its robust upward trajectory on Tuesday, as aggressive buying interest in large- and mid-cap stocks propelled the benchmark All-Share Index (ASI) to a significant milestone.

The index advanced by 1.65%, closing at 176,809.42 points up from 173,946.22 points in the previous session effectively pushing the year-to-date (YTD) return to a double-digit 13.62%.

Market sentiment remained firmly in the green, characterized by a dominant bull run where 66 gainers overwhelmed 22 decliners.

This positive breadth was anchored by a diverse group of high-performing equities across various sectors, signaling broad-based investor confidence in the local bourse.

The day’s trading was headlined by several stocks that hit their maximum daily price limits. DEAPCAP and ETRANZACT led the pack with a 10.00% gain, closely followed by industrial and consumer goods giants such as VITAFOAM, IMG, and WAPCO, all of which gained nearly 10%.

The blue-chip segment also provided significant lift to the index, with notable gains from BUACEMENT (+4.92%), DANGSUGAR (+4.02%), and UBA (+2.79%). Tier-1 lenders ZENITHBANK and FIRSTHOLDCO also contributed to the momentum, gaining 2.42% and 1.91% respectively. On the flip side, ABBEYBDS emerged as the top decliner, leading the 22 stocks that closed in negative territory.

Trading activity saw a notable shift in dynamics. While the total volume of shares traded experienced a sharp decline of 68.08% compared to the previous high, liquidity remained substantial with ₦50.43bn worth of shares changing hands across 58,965 deals.

DEAPCAP dominated the volume charts, facilitating the exchange of 283.12m units and accounting for over 21% of the day’s total volume. In terms of monetary value, MTNN remained the investors’ favorite, recording the highest traded value at ₦6.80bn. The banking sector continued to draw significant capital, with GTCO, ZENITHBANK, and ACCESSCORP trailing MTNN as the most liquid assets for the day.

The current market momentum suggests that investors are repositioning their portfolios in anticipation of corporate earnings reports and potential dividend declarations as the first quarter of 2026 progresses.