The Nigerian equities market ended its 26-day bullish streak on Friday but still delivered impressive returns for investors, adding ₦2.8 trillion in market value during the week.
The market posted gains in four out of the five trading sessions, with market capitalisation climbing to ₦92.2 trillion from ₦89.3 trillion recorded the previous week. Similarly, the All-Share Index (ASI) advanced by 3.18% to close at 145,754.91 points, up from 141,263.05 points a week earlier.
The rally was driven by strong performances from Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, AIICO Insurance Plc, and Royal Exchange Assurance Plc, which ranked among the top 10 best-performing stocks last week—positioning them as key stocks to watch in the coming days.
Note: Ripples Nigeria’s “Stocks to Watch” is not an investment recommendation. Investors are advised to seek professional guidance before making decisions.
Top Performers of the Week
Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc (MBENEFIT) – ₦2.92 ▴ 9.8%
Mutual Benefits closed Friday, August 8, 2025, at ₦2.92 per share, up from ₦2.66. Starting the year at ₦0.61, the stock has surged by 379% year-to-date, ranking fourth on the NGX in performance. Over the past four weeks, it has gained 95%, the second-highest increase on the exchange.
In the last three months (May 8 – Aug 8, 2025), MBENEFIT traded 620 million shares across 5,278 deals, worth ₦1.12 billion—averaging 9.84 million shares per session. Its highest trading volume during the period was 138 million shares on August 8, while the lowest was 756,055 shares on June 4.
AIICO Insurance Plc (AIICO) – ₦3.50 ▴ 9.72%
AIICO closed the week at ₦3.50 per share, up from ₦3.19. It began 2025 at ₦1.43, representing a 145% year-to-date gain, and has risen 67% in the past month—ranking 10th in short-term performance.
From May 8 to August 8, AIICO was the 10th most traded stock, with 1.63 billion shares changing hands in 22,783 deals, valued at ₦3.58 billion. The stock averaged 25.8 million shares per session, peaking at 179 million shares on August 8 and bottoming at 3.33 million shares on May 27.
Royal Exchange Assurance Plc (ROYALEX) – ₦2.39 ▴ 9.63%
Royal Exchange closed Friday at ₦2.39 per share, up from ₦2.18. The stock has climbed 139% year-to-date from its opening price of ₦1.00, and gained 76% in the past month, ranking sixth on the NGX.
Over the last three months, ROYALEX traded 1.03 billion shares in 4,972 deals, worth ₦1.32 billion—averaging 16.4 million shares per session. It recorded its highest volume of 219 million shares on July 2 and its lowest of just 19,493 shares on May 14.
Despite Friday’s pause in the rally, analysts say the market remains buoyed by strong investor sentiment, with insurance stocks in particular showing resilience and growth potential heading into the new week.
