NGX index gains 0.18% amid mixed sentiments

The Nigerian Exchange Limited opened the week on a cautious note as the benchmark All-Share Index inched up by 241.11 points, or 0.18 per cent to close at 131,826.77 on Monday, July 21, 2025, reflecting mixed investor sentiment across major sectors.

Overall, the market has sustained a positive trajectory, with a one-week gain of 4.5 per cent, a four-week gain of 11.59 per cent, and a year-to-date return of 28.08 per cent. Market capitalisation stood at N83.4tn at the close of trading.

Despite the marginal gain in the ASI, market activity showed signs of slowdown. A total of 706.04 million shares, valued at N21.56bn, were exchanged in 30,750 deals. Compared to the previous trading session on Friday, July 18, this represented a 68 per cent drop in volume and a 46 per cent decline in turnover. However, the number of deals rose by eight per cent.

Market breadth was negative, with 31 stocks appreciating while 45 recorded losses. Nigeria Computer Society led the gainers’ chart with a 10 per cent increase to close at N7.26 per share. It was followed by Cutix Plc, International Energy Insurance Plc, and The Initiates Plc, which gained 10 per cent, 10 per cent, and 9.97 per cent, respectively. Caverton Offshore Support Group Plc and R.T. Briscoe Nigeria Plc also made the top gainers’ list with 9.75 per cent and 9.71 per cent, respectively.

On the losers’ table, Meyer Plc declined by 10 per cent to close at N18.90. McNichols Plc, Thomas Wyatt Nigeria Plc, Deap Capital Management & Trust Plc, Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc, and Chemical and Allied Products Plc also recorded notable declines, shedding 9.95 per cent, 9.84 per cent, 9.77 per cent, 9.63 per cent, and 9.46 per cent, respectively.

In terms of trading volume, Access Holdings Plc emerged as the most active stock, with 61.73 million shares traded in 1,686 deals, valued at N1.64bn. It was followed by Consolidated Hallmark Holdings Plc, which recorded a volume of 43.98 million shares worth N133.78m, and Chams Holding Company Plc, which posted 38.66 million units valued at N118.43m. United Bank for Africa Plc and Zenith Bank Plc also featured on the top five volume chart with 32.89 million and 24.60 million shares, respectively.

On the value side, Presco Plc led with a turnover of N3.11bn from 2.34 million shares, followed by Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc with N2.06bn from 21.86 million shares. Zenith Bank Plc recorded N1.73bn in turnover, while Access Holdings Plc and Lafarge Africa Plc closed the top five with N1.64bn and N1.56bn, respectively.