The Nigerian equities market closed on a positive note on Thursday as renewed buying interest in heavyweight energy, banking, and printing equities lifted key performance indicators. Specifically, the All-Share Index advanced by 369.05 basis points, or 0.15 per cent, to close at 246,388.22 bps, compared with the previous day’s close of 246,019.17 bps.
Consequently, the total market capitalisation of listed equities expanded by N238.37bn to settle at N159.15tn, up from N158.91tn recorded on Wednesday.
The bullish performance was significantly boosted by top-tier gainers, led by Seplat Energy Plc, which surged 10.00 per cent to close at N13,552.60 per share, up from its previous price of N12,320.55. UPDC Real Estate Investment Trust followed closely with a 9.88 per cent gain to close at N13.90, while Learn Africa Plc appreciated 9.49 per cent to trade at N8.65 per share.
Other notable gainers included Regency Alliance Insurance Plc, which rose 4.76 per cent to N0.88; Jaiz Bank Plc, which added 4.22 per cent to finish at N8.65; and Coronation Insurance Plc, which grew 4.18 per cent to close at N2.49 per share.
Conversely, R. T. Briscoe Nigeria Plc led the drop on the price depreciation chart, plunging 10.00 per cent to close at N9.90 per share, while Critical Minerals Financing Corp Plc fell 9.86 per cent to N2.56. Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc lost 9.73 per cent to settle at N2.04, Abbey Mortgage Bank Plc slipped 9.68 per cent to N7.00, and NASCON Allied Industries Plc dropped 8.03 per cent to close at N161.40 per share.
Sectoral performance reflected mixed market sentiment across key trading desks during the session.
The Oil and Gas Index maintained a strong upward trajectory, rising 2.22 per cent to close at 5,594.51 points, buoyed by sustained demand for Seplat Energy and Eterna Plc. The Premium Board Index also recorded an upward move, advancing 1.13 per cent to finish at 30,209.12 points.
However, selling pressure across selected tier-one banking stocks pulled the NGX Banking Index down 0.27 per cent to 2,624.45 points, while the NGX Insurance Index contracted 2.00 per cent to close at 1,132.93 points.
Trading activity across the Exchange yielded a cumulative volume of 433,966,907 shares exchanged across 42,217 deals. United Bank for Africa Plc recorded the highest transaction volume for the day, with investors trading 113.26 million shares valued across 1,107 trades. Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc registered 34.25 million shares in 2,568 deals, Access Holdings Plc transacted 24.88 million shares in 2,225 trades, and Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc saw 21.21 million shares change hands in 185 deals. In the fixed income market segment, the Central Bank of Nigeria maintained its benchmark Monetary Policy Rate at 26.50 per cent.