By Juliet Ezeh
Investors on the Nigerian stock market gained nearly ₦2 trillion in a single trading session on Monday as strong buying interest pushed the benchmark index to an all-time high.
Data from the Nigerian Exchange Limited showed that the market’s capitalisation increased by about ₦1.97 trillion, rising from ₦127.36 trillion to ₦129.33 trillion.
The surge followed a 1.55 per cent rise in the NGX All-Share Index, which closed at 201,474.89 points, crossing the historic 201,000-point level for the first time in the market’s history.
The rally reflects growing investor confidence and sustained demand for equities across major sectors of the Nigerian economy.
Market data indicated that the bullish momentum has continued to strengthen the stock market’s performance in recent weeks. The month-to-date return climbed to 4.48 per cent, while the year-to-date gain advanced to 29.47 per cent.
Gains were broadly spread across several companies, with BUA Cement leading the top performers after its share price increased by 10 per cent to close at ₦297.
Other notable gainers included Premier Paints, which rose by 9.79 per cent to ₦21.30, and John Holt Plc, which climbed 9.52 per cent to ₦10.35 per share.
In the insurance sector, Guinea Insurance Plc and Fortis Global Insurance also posted strong gains during the session.
However, some stocks recorded losses. VFD Group Plc led the laggards with a 10 per cent decline to close at ₦11.25, while Royal Exchange Plc and Omatek Ventures Plc also ended the day lower.
Trading activity remained strong, with investors exchanging about 948.2 million shares valued at ₦49.17 billion across 72,735 deals.
Financial services companies dominated the trading floor by volume, highlighting sustained investor interest in banking and insurance stocks.
Zenith Bank Plc recorded the highest value of traded shares at ₦5.96 billion, accounting for more than 12 per cent of the day’s total market value.
Commenting on the development, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Exchange Group, Temi Popoola, described the milestone as evidence of growing confidence in Nigeria’s capital market.
According to him, ongoing economic reforms and increasing participation by local investors are helping to strengthen domestic capital formation and deepen the equities market.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Exchange Limited, Jude Chiemeka, said the record level reflects strong investor engagement and consistent demand across major sectors.
Market analysts say the milestone highlights the resilience of Nigeria’s equities market and its increasing role in wealth creation for investors.
Juliet Ezeh is the founder and chief reporter at Westbridge Reporters with over 7 years of experience in journalism. She covers crime, industry, policy, and social developments, delivering timely and accurate reporting.