Losses in key consumer and financial stocks drag the market lower, despite a positive breadth and strong year-to-date performance……
The Nigerian equities market closed slightly lower on Thursday, as investors moved to lock in profits ahead of the Easter holidays, triggering sell-offs across several mid- and small-cap stocks.
At the close of trading, about ₦3 billion was wiped off market value, pushing total capitalisation down marginally from ₦129.809 trillion to ₦129.806 trillion.
The benchmark All-Share Index also dipped by 4.66 points, or 0.002 per cent, to settle at 201,698.89, compared to 201,703.55 in the previous session.
Sell-Offs Drive Market Dip
The downturn was largely driven by declines in 24 listed companies, with notable losses recorded in stocks such as:
- John Holt Plc
- Abbey Mortgage Bank
- International Energy Insurance
- CHAMS Plc
- Tantalizers Plc
Among them, John Holt Plc posted the steepest decline, shedding 9.91% to close at ₦15.45 per share.
Gains Offer Some Cushion
Despite the overall decline, market sentiment remained relatively resilient, with 34 gainers outpacing 24 losers, indicating selective buying interest.
Leading the gainers’ chart was Unilever Nigeria Plc, which surged 10% to close at ₦103.40 per share.
Other notable gainers included:
- Fortis Global Insurance Plc
- Multiverse Mining and Exploration Plc
- Legend Internet Plc
- Zichis Agro-Allied Industries Ltd
Trading Activity Slows
Market activity weakened during the session, reflecting cautious investor sentiment ahead of the holiday break.
- Total volume traded dropped 31.33% to 559.98 million shares
- Total transaction value stood at ₦19.26 billion across 49,676 deals
Secure Electronic Technology Plc led the volume chart with 59.69 million shares, accounting for over 10% of total trades.
Meanwhile, Zenith Bank Plc dominated the value chart with transactions worth ₦2.47 billion, representing 12.84% of total market turnover.
Still Strong for the Year
Despite the marginal dip, the market continues to post a strong year-to-date return of 29.62%, reflecting sustained investor confidence and broader bullish momentum in 2026.
