Kayode Tokede
The Nigerian stock opened the week on a positive note, as renewed buying interest in Airtel Africa Plc, others pushed the market market capitalisation above historic N160trillion mark.
As the stock price of Airtel Africa gained 8.59per cent, the market capitalisation value gained N1.91 trillion or 1.2 per cent to close at N160.422 trillion from N158.513 trillion it opened for trading.
The 8.59 per cent single gain in Airtel Africa, however, positioned its market capitalisation at N23.7 trillion (becoming the most capitalised stock on NGX) as of August 10, 2026 closing of trading activities on NGX.
The Nigerian Exchange Limited All-Share Index (NGX ASI) appreciated by 2,956.15 basis points or 1.20 per cent to close at 248,529.75 basis points from 245,573.60 basis points the stock market closed for trading last week.
This brings the NGX ASI in its year-to-date (YTD) return improved to 59.71per cent, from 57.81per cent in the previous week.
Investor sentiment was negative, as 36 decliners outpaced 23 advancers. Fortis Global Insurance recorded the highest price gain of 10 per cent to close at N2.86, per share. Chams Holding Company followed with a gain of 9.80 per cent to close at N4.48, while NAHCO rose by 9.29 per cent to close at N153.00, per share.
Airtel Africa up by 8.59 per cent to close at N6,300.00, while Sovereign Trust Insurance increased by 6.59 per cent to close at N1.78, per share.
On the other hand, AVA Capital led the losers’ chart by 10 per cent to close at N9.90, per share. Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) followed with a decline of 9.92 per cent to close at N64.95, while Caverton Offshore Support Group dipped by 9.09 per cent to close at N5.00, per share.
Ikeja Hotel shed 8.41 per cent to close at N43.00, while FTN Cocoa Processors lost 8.37 per cent to close at N8.10, per share.
The total volume fell by 25.11 per cent per cent to 1.137 billion units, valued at N27.017 billion, and exchanged in 59,185 deals. Transactions in the shares of Consolidated Hallmark Holdings topped the activity chart with 354.069 million shares valued at N1.534 billion. Fortis Global Insurance followed with 307.343 million shares worth N818.333 million, while Access Holdings traded 48.075 million shares valued at N1.369 billion.
Chams Holding Company traded 37.371 million shares valued at N163.296 million, while First Holdco transacted 35.755 million shares worth N5.118 billion.
Looking ahead, Cowry Assets Management Limited said, the market is expected to sustain its bullish trend as investor sentiment tilts increasingly positive, though residual profit-taking activity could temper the pace of any recovery.