Investors on the Nigerian Exchange recorded a massive N1.97 trillion gain on Monday as the All-Share Index (ASI) crossed the 201,000-point threshold for the first time in history.
The benchmark index rose by 1.55 percent to close at 201,474.89 points, compared to 198,407.30 points in the previous trading session.
In tandem, market capitalization increased to N129.329 trillion from N127.360 trillion, translating to a gain of about N1.97 trillion for investors’ portfolios.
Market sentiment remained upbeat, with 38 stocks advancing against 30 decliners at the close of trading.
The bullish momentum was driven by strong investor demand and widespread gains across key sectors. As a result, the market’s month-to-date (MTD) return climbed to 4.48 percent, while the year-to-date (YTD) return improved to 29.47 percent.
On the gainers’ chart, BUA Cement led with a 10 percent increase to close at N297 per share. It was followed by Premier Paints, John Holt, Guinea Insurance, and Fortis Global Insurance.
Conversely, VFD Group topped the losers’ chart with a 10 percent decline to N11.25, alongside Royal Exchange, Omatek Ventures, Sovereign Trust Insurance, and Regency Alliance.
Trading activity remained strong, as total deals rose to 72,735. A total of 948.2 million shares valued at N49.17 billion were exchanged during the session.
Financial services stocks dominated trading by volume, reflecting heightened investor interest in the sector. Sovereign Trust Insurance posted the highest volume with 72.56 million shares, accounting for 7.65 percent of total trades, while Zenith Bank recorded the highest value at N5.96 billion, representing 12.11 percent of the day’s turnover.