The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) ended Wednesday’s trading session in the red, marking its second decline in August 2025, with the All-Share Index dropping 191.11 points, or 0.13%, to close at 145,864.78 points. This downturn reduced market capitalization by N121 billion, settling at N92.3 trillion, according to data from the NGX. Investors traded 1.34 billion shares valued at N20.18 billion across 30,737 deals, reflecting a 5% increase in trading volume but a 17% decrease in turnover and a 1% drop in deal numbers compared to the previous session.
Of the 128 equities traded, 53 recorded gains, while 21 declined. Caverton Offshore Support Group led the gainers, rising 10% to N7.92 per share, followed by Learn Africa Plc and FTN Cocoa Processors Plc, both up 10% to N7.70 and N6.93, respectively. Tripple Gee and Company Plc, RT Briscoe Plc, and Prestige Assurance Plc also advanced 10%, closing at N5.17, N3.74, and N2.42, respectively. On the losers’ side, Thomas Wyatt Nigeria Plc fell 10% to N3.42, UACN Property Development Company Plc dropped 7.94% to N8.00, and Legend Internet Technologies Plc declined 6.35% to N5.60.
Universal Insurance Company Plc topped trading volume with 193.43 million shares, followed by Japaul Gold and Ventures Plc (123.16 million), Veritas Kapital Assurance Plc (93.22 million), Access Holdings Plc (84.99 million), and Sterling Financial Holdings Company Plc (68.20 million). In value terms, Access Holdings Plc led with N2.35 billion, trailed by Zenith Bank Plc (N1.86 billion), Aradel Holdings Plc (N1.65 billion), Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (N1.10 billion), and United Bank for Africa Plc (N1.08 billion).
Sectoral performance was mixed, with the Insurance Index surging 7.94% and the Oil and Gas Index gaining 0.12%. However, the Top 30 Index and NGX Industrial Index each fell 0.33%, the Premium Index dropped 0.37%, and the Main Board Index edged down 0.01%. Despite the day’s loss, Nigeria’s broader economic context shows resilience, with capital importation rising 67.12% to $5.64 billion in Q1 2025 and the NGX posting a 39.98% year-to-date gain, though challenges like naira volatility (N1,565/$1 in the parallel market) and 22.22% inflation in June persist.
