The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) returned to positive territory on Tuesday as renewed buying lifted the benchmark All-Share Index by 0.26 percent to 245,911.13 points.
Investors traded 348.75 million shares worth N25.88 billion in 32,639 deals during the session, while equities market capitalisation closed at approximately N159.668 trillion.
Trading activity was concentrated largely in banking stocks with United Bank for Africa leading the market by volume after investors exchanged 48.14 million shares worth N2.12 billion.
FCMB followed with 30.12 million shares valued at N328.31 million, while Zenith Bank recorded 21.01 million shares worth N2.59 billion.
GTCO posted 16.07 million shares valued at N1.97 billion, while Dangote Sugar completed the five most actively traded stocks with 9.27 million shares worth N619.03 million.
The four banking stocks — UBA, FCMB, Zenith Bank and GTCO — collectively accounted for approximately 115.33 million shares, representing about 33.1 percent of total market volume.
Their combined transaction value stood at roughly N7.01 billion, equivalent to about 27.1 percent of the N25.88 billion traded across the equities market.
Austin Laz & Company led the equity gainers among the securities provided, rising 9.97 percent from N3.21 to N3.53.
ABC Transport followed with a 9.92 percent increase to N6.65, while Cutix gained 9.91 percent to N2.33. Thomas Wyatt Nigeria advanced 9.77 percent to N2.92.
Livestock Feeds led the equity decliners, dropping 9.76 percent from N18.95 to N17.10, following the strong rally recorded by the stock in recent weeks.
Guinea Insurance declined 7.78 percent to N0.83, NPF Microfinance Bank fell 5.75 percent to N4.10, Mutual Benefits Assurance lost 4.69 percent to N3.05, while AIICO Insurance dropped 3.06 percent to N3.80.
The positive close lifted the NGX All-Share Index to 245,911.13 points, although the benchmark remained below the 247,539.73 points recorded at the end of the previous trading week.