Nigerian stocks stumbled for the first time this year, shedding 617.32 points to close at 165,512.18.
Consequently, the All-Share Index fell 0.37%, ending a seven-week rally that had lifted investor optimism since December 2025.
Nigerian Stocks Market Slide Ends Rally
As a result, market capitalisation eased to ₦105.9 trillion, signalling a cautious start to the year.
Trading slowed as investors exchanged 3.7 billion shares across 237,179 deals, down from 4.6 billion the previous week.
Trading And Sector Activity
Accordingly, market breadth weakened: 58 stocks rose, 40 fell, and 50 remained unchanged.
The week began cautiously.
On Monday, the index dipped 17 points, but it partially recovered on Tuesday with a 0.09% gain.
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Wednesday saw little change, edging up just 0.01%, before Thursday brought a sharp 870-point drop—the steepest single-day loss of the year.
Although Friday gained 0.07%, it failed to offset the weekly decline.
Most sectors mirrored the downtrend.
However, NGX Oil & Gas rose 1.36%, boosted by Aradel (+3.71%).
Consumer Goods fell 2.02%, and Banking dropped 1.32%, with only Zenith Bank gaining.
Insurance and Industrial Goods indices declined marginally.
Top Movers And Corporate News
Top gainers included Deap Capital (+60.09%), SCOA (+59.73%), NCR (+46.36%), and Zichis Agro (+44.75%).
Key losers were Eterna (-11.92%), Secure Electronic Technology (-10.19%), and Industrial & Medical Gases (-9.95%).
Corporate highlights also influenced the market.
Zichis Agro listed 600 million shares, NEM Insurance posted a ₦27.9 billion profit, and Guinea Insurance announced a ₦5.3 billion rights issue.
Furthermore, Sterling’s major shareholder, Ess‑ay Investment, acquired ₦197.9 million worth of shares.
The market may retrace further depending on mid- and large-cap stock performance.
Nevertheless, corporate developments may support confidence, although short-term volatility remains likely.
