The total equities market capitalisation on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) crossed another historic milestone on Thursday, closing at an all-time peak of N164.973 trillion.
The record buying momentum was anchored by heavy institutional demand in industrial bellwethers like Dangote Cement alongside maximum 10 percent percentage gains across select mid-cap equities.
The industrial surge effectively cushioned profit-taking pressures across the financial sector, where First Holdco Plc dropped 10 percent to close at N125.55 on intense volume (343.8 million shares traded), pulling the NGX Banking Index down by 2.10 percent
The benchmark NGX All-Share Index (ASI) mirrored the expansion, advancing by 0.47 percent (1,200.24 points) on Thursday to finish at 254,083.02 points, up from the previous session’s close of 252,882.78 points.
Thursday’s close reinforces a sustained multi-month corporate earnings rally on the Customs Street trading floor, placing the Nigerian capital market on its highest valuation trajectory in national history.
The single-session rally added N779.31 billion in net value to investors’ portfolios, erasing Wednesday’s slight profit-taking pullback (N164.19 trillion) and eclipsing the previous record peak of N164.91 trillion set earlier in the week.
The market recorded turnover of 654.14 million shares valued across 35,789 deals (+61.88 percent in volume)
Digital payment service provider eTranzact International Plc led the advancing table, soaring 10 percent to close at N17.60. Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc followed closely, gaining 9.60 percent to hit N2.17, while FTN Cocoa Processors Plc advanced 9.38 percent to finish at N1.75.
Alternative asset tiers also expanded, with the NGX Lotus Islamic Index gaining 1.20 percent to close at 24,087.12 points and the NGX Growth Index adding 0.98 percent to finish at 27,158.78 points.