The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) closed the week on a bearish note, as the All-Share Index (ASI) and market capitalisation depreciated by 2.51 per cent to settle at 141,004.14 points and ₦89.209tn, respectively.
The decline reflects sustained profit-taking and cautious investor sentiment, marking a reversal from last week’s upbeat performance.
According to trading data, investors exchanged a total of 4.773bn shares worth ₦107.426bn in 152,965 deals during the week under review.
This represents a 44.24 per cent decline in volume compared with 8.564bn shares valued at ₦99.936bn traded in 177,870 deals the previous week, even though turnover value rose.
Activity on the Exchange was largely dominated by the Financial Services sector, which accounted for 78.24 per cent of total equity turnover volume and 56.44 per cent of value.
The sector recorded 3.734bn shares worth ₦60.627bn in 72,977 deals.
The Consumer Goods sector followed with 370.404 million shares valued at ₦14.025bn in 17,997 deals, while the Services sector ranked third with 176.285 million shares worth ₦1.279bn in 8,790 deals.
Universal Insurance Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, and FCMB Group Plc emerged as the most actively traded equities by volume.
The trio jointly accounted for 1.201bn shares valued at ₦29.433bn in 10,537 deals, contributing 25.16 per cent and 27.40 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.
While most sectoral indices closed negatively, the NGX Consumer Goods Index appreciated by 0.83 per cent, and the NGX Growth Index gained 4.14 per cent.
Meanwhile, the NGX ASeM and NGX Commodity indices closed flat.
Market breadth closed negative as decliners outpaced gainers.
A total of 43 equities appreciated in price, compared with 50 in the previous week, while 54 equities declined, higher than 49 recorded last week.
Additionally, 49 equities remained unchanged, slightly higher than 47 in the prior week.
The week’s performance underscores sustained volatility in the local bourse as investors continue to rebalance their portfolios in response to mixed macroeconomic signals and corporate earnings releases.
