Investors on the Nigerian Exchange Limited, NGX, took a cautious stance during the Christmas-shortened trading week, as activity on the bourse slowed sharply despite modest gains in key market indicators.
A total of 2.876 billion shares valued at N63.832 billion were traded in 80,229 transactions during the week under review.
This marked a steep drop from the previous week’s performance, when investors exchanged 9.849 billion shares worth N305.843 billion in 126,584 deals.
The sharp contrast reflected a 379.1 per cent decline in transaction value, as the market operated for only three trading days.
The reduced trading window followed the Federal Government’s declaration of Thursday, December 25, and Friday, December 26, as public holidays to mark the Christmas celebration.
Activity on the exchange was largely driven by the Financial Services Industry, which topped the sectoral chart with 1.984 billion shares valued at N32.680 billion traded in 31,632 deals.
The sector accounted for 68.99 per cent of total equity turnover volume and 51.20 per cent of total value.
The Investment Industry followed, recording a turnover of 208.695 million shares worth N2.264 billion in 640 deals.
The Conglomerates Industry ranked third, with 147.002 million shares valued at N6.085 billion exchanged in 1,676 deals.
Trading in three equities—Abbey Mortgage Bank Plc, VFD Group Plc and Custodian Investment Plc—dominated the week’s transactions.
Together, the stocks accounted for 1.471 billion shares worth N14.684 billion in 1,093 deals, representing 51.15 per cent of total turnover volume and 23.00 per cent of total value.
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Despite the lower trading activity, the market closed the week on a positive note. The NGX All-Share Index appreciated by 0.97 per cent to settle at 153,539.83 points, while market capitalisation rose by 0.98 per cent to N97.890 trillion.
Most sectoral indices ended the week higher, with the exception of the NGX Premium, NGX Insurance, NGX MERI Growth and NGX Lotus II indices, which declined by 0.51 per cent, 2.13 per cent, 0.23 per cent and 0.62 per cent respectively. The NGX Oil and Gas Index and the NGX Sovereign Bond Index closed flat.
Market breadth was mixed, as 44 equities recorded price appreciation, compared with 55 in the preceding week. Thirty equities declined, down from 36 previously, while 73 equities remained unchanged, higher than the 55 recorded a week earlier.
Aluminium Extrusion Industries, Austinlaz, International Breweries, Mecure Industries and First Holding Company emerged as the top gainers, appreciating by N4, 78 kobo, N2.50, N10.20 and N8.05 respectively.
On the losers’ chart were Legend Internet, Champion Breweries, Nem Insurance, AXA Mansard Insurance and Associated Bus Company, which shed between 23 kobo and N2.20.
In a corporate development, the NGX listed an additional 2,348,030,000 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each for Chams Holding Company Plc on Tuesday, December 23, 2025.
The new shares were issued through the company’s rights issue at N1.70 per share, on the basis of one new share for every two ordinary shares held as of June 16, 2025.
This brought Chams Holding Company’s total issued and fully paid-up shares to 9.0 billion.
The exchange also announced the commencement of trading in Fidson Healthcare Plc’s rights issue of 600 million ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N35.00 per share.
The offer, based on one new share for every four existing shares held as of November 12, opened for trading on Friday, December 19.
NAN
