The Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) ended Thursday’s trading session higher, with strong buying interest in Seplat Energy Plc and UPDC Real Estate Investment Trust helping to add N238.37 billion to the market value of listed equities.
The total market capitalisation climbed to N159.15 trillion from N158.91 trillion in the previous session, while the NGX All-Share Index gained 369.05 points, representing a 0.15 per cent increase, to close at 246,388.22.
Seplat Energy was the biggest driver of the market’s advance, with its share price rising by the maximum 10 per cent to N13,552.60. UPDC REIT followed with a 9.88 per cent gain, closing at N13.90, while Learn Africa advanced 9.49 per cent to N8.65.
Other stocks that recorded notable gains included Regency Alliance Insurance, which appreciated by 4.76 per cent to 88 kobo, and Jaiz Bank, which rose 4.22 per cent to N8.65. Coronation Insurance also gained 4.18 per cent, closing at N2.49.
Despite the increase in the benchmark index, market breadth remained negative as 33 stocks declined compared with 21 gainers.
RT Briscoe recorded the steepest loss, dropping 10 per cent to N9.90 per share. Critical Minerals Financing Corporation fell 9.86 per cent to N2.56, while Sovereign Trust Insurance declined 9.73 per cent to N2.04.
Abbey Mortgage Bank shed 9.68 per cent to close at N7, while NASCON Allied Industries lost 8.03 per cent to finish at N161.40.
Sectoral performance was mixed. The NGX Oil and Gas Index rose 2.22 per cent to 5,594.51 points, supported by demand for Seplat Energy and Eterna Plc. The Premium Board Index also strengthened by 1.13 per cent to close at 30,209.12 points.
However, pressure on selected banking stocks pushed the NGX Banking Index down 0.27 per cent to 2,624.45 points. The NGX Insurance Index recorded a sharper decline of two per cent, ending the session at 1,132.93 points.
Trading activity remained substantial, with 433.97 million shares exchanged in 42,217 deals.
United Bank for Africa Plc dominated trading by volume, with 113.26 million shares changing hands in 1,107 transactions. Guaranty Trust Holding Company recorded 34.25 million shares in 2,568 deals, while Access Holdings accounted for 24.88 million shares across 2,225 transactions.
Sovereign Trust Insurance also recorded significant activity, with 21.21 million shares traded in 185 deals.
In the fixed-income market, the Central Bank of Nigeria maintained its benchmark Monetary Policy Rate at 26.50 per cent.
The session highlighted the continued influence of large-cap energy stocks on overall market performance, with Seplat’s sharp price appreciation more than offsetting declines recorded across several sectors.
