The Nigerian stock market recorded its ninth straight gain on Friday, adding N3.391 trillion in market value. Investor appetite strengthened in shares such as NAHCO, Trans-Nationwide Express, Ecobank Transnational, Access Corporation, and Daar Communications, lifting overall market capitalisation from N136.435 trillion to N139.826 trillion. The All-Share Index rose by 5,266.55 points, or 2.49 per cent, to settle at 217,167.57. Year-to-date returns improved to 39.56 per cent, with 44 stocks gaining against 27 that declined. NAHCO and Trans-Nationwide Express each gained 10 per cent, closing at N220 and N6.05 respectively. Ecobank Transnational rose 9.97 per cent to N67.30, Access Corporation climbed 9.93 per cent to N29.90, and Daar Communications advanced 9.64 per cent to N1.82. Mecure fell 9.96 per cent to N60.60, Honeywell Flour dropped 9.52 per cent to N19, and Abbey Mortgage Bank closed at N8.10. E-Tranzact lost 9.27 per cent to N18.60, while Caverton Offshore Support Group declined 9.02 per cent to N5.55. Total traded volume jumped 115.08 per cent to 1.26 billion shares valued at N54.35 billion across 56,923 deals. Sterling Bank led volume trading with 383.85 million shares, representing 30.51 per cent of total volume. Aradel topped the value chart with N9.75 billion, accounting for 17.94 per cent of total turnover. A Lagos-based market analyst attributed the rally to improved investor sentiment and expectations of stronger corporate earnings in the banking and industrial sectors.

💡 NaijaBuzz Take

Nine straight days of gains and a N3.391 trillion addition suggest confidence is returning to the market, yet the same investors driving this rally were absent during the earlier downturn. While NAHCO and Trans-Nationwide Express surged 10 per cent, their valuations remain modest compared to the broader economic pressures facing ordinary Nigerians. The surge in turnover led by Sterling Bank and Aradel reflects institutional activity, not widespread retail participation. This rally may signal optimism, but it does not yet reflect a broad-based recovery accessible to average market participants.

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