Nigerian Stock Market Sustains 11-Week Rally with Insurance Sector Leading Gains
The Nigerian equities market continued its remarkable winning streak for the 11th straight week, closing the trading session for the week ending August 8, 2025, with a strong performance.
The All-Share Index climbed by 4,491.86 points to settle at 145,754.91, representing a 3.18% weekly gain from the opening figure of 141,263.05.
This surge was largely driven by bullish sentiment in the insurance sector, alongside increased investor participation. Weekly trading volume jumped to 7.7 billion shares, a significant rise from 4.8 billion the previous week. Market capitalisation also expanded, hitting N92.2 trillion compared to N89.37 trillion a week earlier, edging closer to the historic N100 trillion mark.
Market breadth was positive, with 66 gainers versus 41 losers, while 39 equities closed unchanged.
The week’s rally was front-loaded:
Monday saw the largest advance, pushing the ASI beyond 144,000 points.
By Wednesday, the index crossed 145,000.
Thursday briefly took it to 146,000 before Friday’s mild correction ended a 22-day winning run.
On the indices:
NGX Premium Index added 0.62%, supported by a 9.22% jump in Dangote Cement.
NGX Main Board Index gained 4.64%, while NGX 30 Index rose 2.74%.
Sector Highlights
Insurance was the week’s star performer, soaring 41%, with all top gainers from the sector.
Industrial Goods advanced 8.73%, led by BUA Cement (+13.92%), Dangote Cement (+9.22%), Chemical & Allied Products (+10.45%), Meyer (+10.00%), and Berger Paints (+8.70%).
Consumer Goods climbed 8.27%, boosted by BUA Foods (+18.93%), Champion Breweries (+15.19%), and Unilever (+6.98%).
Oil and Gas rose 0.17%, with Oando gaining 5.46%.
The Banking Index slipped 0.75% as investors took profits in top-tier banks.
Top Gainers
Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc (+60.44%)
AIICO Insurance Plc (+59.82%)
Royal Exchange Plc (+59.33% to N2.39)
Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc (+59.06% to N2.72)
Cornerstone Insurance Plc (+54.46% to N6.41)
Universal Insurance Plc (+52.78% to N1.10)
Regency Assurance Plc (+51.19% to N1.27)
Veritas Kapital Assurance Plc (+51.08% to N2.10)
Coronation Insurance Plc (+46.52% to N3.37)
International Energy Insurance Plc (+46.48% to N3.12)
Top Losers
LivingTrust Mortgage Bank Plc (-24.13%)
Academy Press Plc (-18.18%)
The Initiates Plc (-12.73% to N12.00)
UPDC Real Estate Investment Trust (-11.76% to N8.25)
Legend Internet Plc (-11.72% to N5.65)
Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc (-10.05% to N59.50)
Transcorp Power Plc (-10.00% to N288.00)
UH Real Estate Investment Trust (-10.00% to N57.60)
Austin Laz & Company Plc (-9.83% to N2.11)
PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc (-9.77% to N38.80)
Corporate Announcements
International Breweries released its Q2 results.
Sterling Bank disclosed three director share purchases.
United Capital held its H1 earnings call.
Oando named a new company secretary — the first in 14 years.
While optimism remains, modest gains in some heavyweight counters suggest possible short-term pullbacks if profit-taking intensifies.
