Stock market records 25.8% decline in weekly transaction value as ASI slips 0.5%

By Seun Ibiyemi

The Nigerian equities market ended the week on a downward trajectory, with a noticeable slowdown in trading activity as investors exchanged 3.199 billion shares worth ₦85.399 billion in 142,477 transactions. This represented a 25.8 per cent fall in value compared with the ₦107.426 billion traded across 152,965 deals in the previous week.

The Financial Services sector retained its leading position, accounting for 68.61 per cent of total equity turnover volume and 49.99 per cent of total value. Investors traded 2.195 billion shares worth ₦42.689 billion in 66,808 transactions.

The Consumer Goods sector followed with 277.881 million shares valued at ₦9.910 billion, while the Services sector ranked third with 178.992 million shares worth ₦1.308 billion.

Trading activity was dominated by FCMB Group Plc, Champion Breweries Plc, and Access Holdings Plc. Together, the three companies contributed 24.34 per cent of the total volume and 15.40 per cent of the week’s overall value, with 778.603 million shares valued at ₦13.155 billion changing hands.

The NGX All-Share Index (ASI) fell by 0.50 per cent to close at 140,295.50 points, while market capitalisation dropped by 0.49 per cent to settle at ₦88.769 trillion.

With the exception of the NGX AFR Div Yield Index, which posted a 0.94 per cent gain, all other indices closed lower, while the NGX ASeM Index remained flat.

Market breadth weakened further, with only 32 equities recording price gains compared to 43 in the prior week. Decliners increased to 57, up from 54 the previous week.

Among the top losers were Secure Electronic Technology, Guinea Insurance, Lasaco Assurance, University Press, and Mutual Benefits Assurance. On the flip side, McNichols, NEM Insurance, Berger Paints, Coronation Insurance, and Learn Africa led the gainers’ chart, posting advances ranging from 11.43 per cent to 18.75 per cent.

The Nigerian Exchange also announced a series of new listings during the week. Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund added 270,382 units, bringing its total to 1.056 billion units. Additionally, 87.9 million units of Coronation Infrastructure Fund were listed under its ₦200 billion issuance programme.

Industrial & Medical Gases Nigeria Plc began its rights issue of 199,797,458 ordinary shares at ₦32.00 per share, on the basis of two new shares for every five held as of May 21. The Exchange also confirmed the supplementary listing of additional Federal Government of Nigeria Bonds issued in May 2025.