Stock market gains N390bn as Nigeria regains frontier market status
The Nigerian equities market closed bullish on Wednesday, leading to N390 billion gains for investors.
The positive performance was driven by the release of full-year 2025 financial results from listed companies.
This also follows FTSE Russell’s official update of Nigeria’s status in its latest Equity Country Classification Interim Review, confirming the country’s return to Frontier Market status from its previous “Unclassified” (Standalone) position.
The reclassification, which takes effect from September, implies that global tracker funds and Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) that track the FTSE Frontier Index will be required to reallocate capital into Nigerian equities.
Specifically, the market capitalisation, which opened at N130.014 trillion, added N390 billion or 0.28 per cent to close at N130.404 trillion.
The All-Share Index also gained 0.28 per cent or 562.44 points, to settle at 202,585.54, against 202,023.10 recorded on Tuesday.
As a result, the Year-To-Date (YTD) return increased to 30.19 per cent.
In spite of the overall positive sentiment, market breadth closed negative, with 32 losers and 22 gainers.
On the losers’ chart, UPDCredit led by 10 per cent, settling at N6.75, Fortis Global Insurance trailed by 9.92 per cent, closing at N1.18.
Deap Capital Management lost by 9.85 per cent, ending the session at N5.40 per share.
Also, CHAMS dipped by 9.47 per cent, finishing at N3.06 while JaPaul Gold fell by 8.82 per cent, closing at N3.10 per share.
On the other hand, Universal Insurance led the gainers’ chart by 10 per cent, ending the session at N1.21.
Omatek Ventures followed by 9.78 per cent, settling at N2.47 while VFD Group gained by 9.71 per cent, finishing at N11.30 per share.
Similarly, Computer Warehouse Group added by 9.64 per cent, closing at N21.05 and Livestock Feeds increased by 9.56 per cent, finishing at N7.45 per share.
Access Corporation led the activity chart in volume, recording 232.98 million shares to account for 23.14 per cent of total trades.
Zenith Bank emerged as the most traded stock by value at N6.47 billion, representing 15.94 per cent of the day’s turnover. (NAN)