The Nigerian Exchange Limited experienced an aggregate market value decline on Monday as trading closed on a bearish note.
The All-Share Index decreased 0.07 per cent to close at 242,454.65 points, dropping from 242,619.20 points recorded on Friday. Correspondingly, market capitalisation for equities contracted by N106.24bn, ending the session at N156.52tn compared to N156.62tn reported at the previous close.
Throughout the five-day trading window, the ASI reached a high point of 246,723.57 points and recorded a low of 242,454.65 points, bringing the average index point to 243,756.38 points.
Across sectoral and thematic performance metrics, board indices displayed widespread modest pullbacks. The NGX Main-Board Index slipped to 10,910.62 points, while the NGX 30 Index registered at 8,890.47 points. The NGX Premium Index slid slightly to 28,662.38 points.
Sector-specific performance showed the NGX Banking Index settling at 2,536.29 points, the NGX Insurance Index at 1,112.05 points, and the NGX Industrial Index closing virtually flat at 10,378.76 points.
Conversely, the NGX Consumer Goods Index gained ground, rising from 4,037.91 points to 4,055.29 points, and the NGX Sovereign Bond Index ticked up to 670.82 points.
Trading activity across the equities market culminated in a total volume of 1.33 billion shares exchanged in 45,439 trades. The Main Board generated the vast majority of turnover, recording 1.24 billion shares valued across 25,549 trades. The Premium Board followed with 72.48 million shares traded in 16,705 transactions.
Within the individual equities space, significant volume activity was observed in LASACO Assurance Plc with 730.69 million shares, Consolidated Hallmark Holdings Plc with 154.26 million shares, and Cornerstone Insurance Plc with 106.11 million shares.
Price movements reflected targeted interest across select gainers and loss-taking among notable names. On the gainers’ side, AVA Capital Plc surged 9.72 per cent to close at N7.90 per share, Trans-Nationwide Express Plc rose 9.86 per cent to N3.12 per share, and Thomas Wyatt Nigeria Plc advanced 9.09 per cent to N3.00 per share. Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc also posted a strong gain of 8.60 per cent to finish at N70.10 per share.
Conversely, RT Briscoe Plc and Fortis Global Insurance Plc faced selling pressure, each declining nearly 10 per cent to close at N10.45 and N2.37 per share, respectively. NEM Insurance Plc lost 8.83 per cent to settle at N30.45 per share, while Cutix Plc dropped 6.53 per cent to finish at N2.29 per share.