Investors gained approximately N623 billion on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) on Thursday as sustained buying pushed equity market capitalisation to N163.68 trillion and lifted the All-Share Index above 252,000 points.
Equity market capitalisation increased from N163.057 trillion on Wednesday to N163.679 trillion, representing an increase of approximately N622.51 billion during the trading session.
The NGX All-Share Index advanced 0.38 percent to 252,150.01 points from 251,191.02 points in the previous session.
The index gained 958.99 points as the equities market extended its positive momentum.
Trading activity was mixed with investors exchanging 978.29 million shares worth N50.16 billion in 48,558 deals.
Total transaction value increased by approximately 9.5 percent from N45.82 billion recorded in the previous session, despite a sharp decline in the number of shares traded.
Market volume dropped approximately 38.5 percent from the 1.59 billion shares exchanged on Wednesday, when unusually heavy activity in Fortis Global Insurance pushed overall volume above one billion shares.
The number of transactions also declined from 49,836 deals to 48,558 deals.
Fidelity Bank dominated Thursday’s trading activity, recording 335.20 million shares worth N6.91 billion.
The lender accounted for approximately 34.3 percent of the 978.29 million shares traded across the equities market during the session.
VFD Group followed with 122.06 million shares valued at N1.40 billion, while Transnational Corporation traded 65.94 million shares worth N2.44 billion.
Access Holdings recorded 43.72 million shares valued at N1.33 billion, while Chams Holding Company traded 42.60 million shares worth N139.90 million.
Combined, the five most actively traded stocks accounted for approximately 609.51 million shares, equivalent to about 62.3 percent of total market volume.
On the price table, Critical Minerals Financing Corporation led the reported gainers after appreciating 10 percent from N2.70 to N2.97.
RT Briscoe followed with a 9.55 percent increase from N8.90 to N9.75, while Caverton Offshore Support Group rebounded 8.75 percent from N4 to N4.35.
NAHCO gained 8.57 percent to close at N152, while Linkage Assurance appreciated 7.36 percent from N1.63 to N1.75.
On the losing side, Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals declined 7.23 percent from N8.30 to N7.70.
Ellah Lakes fell 5.33 percent to N8, Mutual Benefits Assurance declined 4.65 percent to N3.28, Lasaco Assurance lost 4.44 percent to N1.72, while Wema Bank fell 3.93 percent to N30.55.
Activity among the reported exchange-traded funds was also positive.
NEWGOLD increased from N95,000 to N97,000, while MERGROWTH advanced from N128 to N135.95. VETBANK rose from N29 to N30, while VETGRIF30 and VETINDETF closed unchanged.
Thursday’s advance lifted the NGX All-Share Index to 252,150.01 points and pushed equity market capitalisation to a new level of N163.68 trillion, with investors adding approximately N623 billion in market value during the session.