Nigerian Stock Market Extends Rally as First Holdco Surge Lifts Investors’ Wealth by ₦390bn

• Investor wealth rose by ₦390 billion as market capitalisation climbed to ₦156.239 trillion despite a slight dip in the benchmark index.

• First Holdco rallied nearly 10 percent to lead 33 gainers, extending buying interest in banking and mid-cap stocks.

• Profit-taking in Transcorp Express, International Breweries and NGX Group capped broader gains, with 18 stocks closing lower.

July 15, () — Nigeria’s equities market extended its positive momentum on Wednesday as sustained buying interest in banking and mid-cap stocks lifted investors’ wealth by ₦390 billion, although the benchmark index closed marginally lower amid a market adjustment.

At the close of trading, the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) market capitalisation advanced from ₦155.849 trillion to ₦156.239 trillion, representing a gain of ₦390 billion.

Meanwhile, the All-Share Index (ASI) slipped slightly from 242,870.44 points to 242,366.75 points.

Market activity reflected continued investor appetite, with 33 stocks appreciating against 18 decliners, reinforcing the positive market breadth recorded during the session despite the marginal pullback in the benchmark index.

Pricing Session

Top Gainers

1. First Holdco Plc gained 9.98 percent (rising from ₦72.15 to ₦79.35).
2. Thomas Wyatt Nigeria Plc advanced 9.29 percent (moving from ₦2.69 to ₦2.94).
3. Legend Internet Plc appreciated 8.99 percent (climbing from ₦4.45 to ₦4.85).
4. Tripple Gee & Company Plc rose 8.96 percent (increasing from ₦3.57 to ₦3.89).
5. McNichols Plc added 8.70 percent (closing higher from ₦4.60 to ₦5.00).

   

Top Decliners

1. Transcorp Express Plc declined 9.85 percent (falling from ₦3.35 to ₦3.02).
2. International Breweries Plc lost 6.12 percent (dropping from ₦13.90 to ₦13.05).
3. HMCALL Plc shed 5.95 percent (slipping from ₦3.53 to ₦3.32).
4. DAAR Communications Plc fell 5.68 percent (declining from ₦1.76 to ₦1.66).
5. NGX Group Plc depreciated 4.38 percent (closing lower from ₦137.10 to ₦131.10).

   

Several bellwether stocks ended the session unchanged, including MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, Presco Plc, Dangote Cement Plc, Seplat Energy Plc, and Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, helping to moderate volatility in the broader market.

The session suggests investors remain selective, with funds rotating into fundamentally attractive banking and mid-cap counters while profit-taking persists in stocks that recorded strong gains in previous sessions.

Market sentiment remains broadly positive, supported by improving market breadth and sustained demand for financial stocks.

Investors are expected to continue positioning in fundamentally sound counters ahead of upcoming corporate disclosures, although intermittent profit-taking is likely to keep trading mixed in the near term.