Kayode Tokede
The Nigerian stock market sustained its positive momentum to commence trading activities for the month of September 2026 with a gain of N1.22 trillion.
The Nigerian Exchange Limited All-Share Index (NGX ASI) gained by 1,883.24 basis points or 0.77 per cent to close at 246,082.63 basis points from 244,199.39 basis points as the Month-to-Date and Year-to-Date returns settled at +0.8per cent and +58.1per cent, respectively.
Similarly, the market capitalisation value rose by N1.22 trillion to close at N158.956 trillion against N157.739 trillion it closed for trading the previous day.
Sectoral performance was positive, as the Oil & Gas (+3.9per cent), Insurance (+3.3per cent), Banking (+0.9per cent), Consumer Goods (+0.9per cent), and Industrial Goods (+0.7per cent indices advanced.
The market positive performance was driven by price appreciation in large and medium capitalised stocks which are; Nestle Nigeria, Aradel Holdings, HBM Nigeria, May & Baker Nigeria and Nigerian Exchange Group.
Investor sentiment was strongly positive as 40 advancers outpaced 19 decliners. FTN Cocoa Processors and McNichols recorded the highest price gain of 10 per cent each to close at N8.25 and N4.95 respectively, while Sunu Assurance followed with a gain of 9.94 per cent to close at N3.43, per share.
Sovereign Trust Insurance up by 9.57 per cent to close at N2.06, while Caverton Offshore Support Group rose by 9.52 per cent to close at N4.60, per share.
On the other hand, Tripple Gee & Company led the losers’ chart by 9.72 per cent to close at N2.60, per share. ABC Transports followed with a decline of 9.52 per cent to close at N4.75, while Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) declined by 9.22 per cent to close at N136.35, per share.
R.T. Briscoe lost 9.21 per cent to close at N10.35, while Unilever Nigeria depreciated by 3.51 per cent to close at N110.00, per share.
Total traded volume rose by 7.4 per cent to 651.32 million units, valued at N651.322 billion, and exchanged in 43,760 deals. Transactions in the shares of Access Holdings topped the activity chart with 129.893 million shares valued at N4.155 billion. Critical Minerals Financing Corporation (CMFC) followed with 58.025 million shares worth N162.726 million, while Linkage Assurance traded 36.321 million shares valued at N70.053 million.
Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) traded 32.102 million shares valued at N4.291 billion, while Nigerian Breweries transacted 29.616 million shares worth N2.218 billion.
Looking ahead, Cowry Assets Management Limited said, the market is expected to sustain its positive momentum as investor sentiment continues to improve, buoyed by the FTSE Russell reclassification confirmation.