LAGOS, NIGERIA — The Nigerian Exchange recorded a significant surge in trading activity during the week ended September 4, as investors exchanged N210.33 billion for 4.36 billion shares across 223,284 deals. The figures represent a 70.7 percent increase in turnover value compared with the N123.22 billion exchanged for 2.51 billion shares in 173,561 deals the previous week .
The NGX All-Share Index and market capitalisation appreciated by 2.36 percent and 2.40 percent respectively, closing the week at 246,992.44 points and N159.56 trillion. The performance lifted the market’s year-to-date return to 58.72 percent .
Top Sectors
The financial services industry recorded the highest trading volume by a significant margin, with 3.58 billion shares worth N88.64 billion exchanged in 99,488 deals. The sector accounted for 82.10 percent of the total equity turnover volume and 42.14 percent of the total value traded .
The consumer goods industry followed with 188.04 million shares valued at N15.34 billion in 24,518 deals, while the services industry recorded a turnover of 142.29 million shares worth N2.02 billion in 14,007 deals .
The oil and gas sector led sectoral performance with a 9.10 percent weekly gain, followed by commodities at 5.99 percent, consumer goods at 4.47 percent, insurance at 3.85 percent, and banking at 3.58 percent .
Top Equities
Fortis Global Insurance Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc, and Access Holdings Plc emerged as the three most traded equities by volume. The companies recorded a combined turnover of 2.29 billion shares worth N35.23 billion in 20,975 deals, representing 52.46 percent of the total equity turnover volume and 16.75 percent of the total value traded .
Top Gainers
Royal Exchange Plc led the gainers chart after its share price rose by 25 percent to close at N1.10. Champion Breweries Plc followed with a 20.10 percent gain, rising to N11.95, while Nigerian Breweries Plc appreciated by 18.80 percent to N82.45. Coronation Insurance Plc gained 17.07 percent to close at N2.40, and McNichols Consolidated Plc completed the top five with a 16.67 percent increase to N5.25 .
Top Losers
Beta Glass Plc recorded the biggest decline, with its share price falling by 17.38 percent to N465. Nascon Allied Industries Plc followed with a 15.90 percent decline to N164, while Red Star Express Plc shed 13.62 percent to N13.95. RT Briscoe Plc declined by 13.16 percent to close at N9.90, and University Press Plc completed the top five losers list with a 12.28 percent decline to N5.00 .
Market Breadth
Market breadth strengthened considerably, reflecting broader participation in the week’s rally. Fifty-six equities appreciated in price, more than double the 24 gainers recorded in the previous week, while decliners fell to 35 from 55 .
Additional Listings
The NGX notified trading licence holders that additional shares were listed during the week, including 4.533 billion shares of Coronation Insurance Plc, 2.573 billion shares of Sterling Financial Holdings Company Plc, 2.510 billion shares of Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc, 2.075 billion shares of Sunu Assurances Nigeria Plc, and 68.728 million shares of Eunisell Interlinked Plc .
