Trading activities on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) closed on a subdued note at the end of Wednesday’s session, as key market indicators recorded notable declines compared with the previous trading day.
A total of 1.23 billion shares, valued at ₦35.13 billion, were exchanged in 27,872 deals.
This represents a sharp slowdown in market activity, reflecting a 74 per cent drop in trading volume, a 10 per cent decline in turnover, and a 20 per cent reduction in the number of deals compared with trading on Tuesday, December 30.
Despite the weaker trading momentum, the overall market capitalisation of the NGX remained steady at ₦99.2 trillion, underscoring sustained investor interest in select equities.
In all, 128 listed stocks participated in the day’s trading, with market breadth closing positive as 47 equities recorded price gains, while 16 stocks declined.
Aluminium Extrusion Industries emerged as the top gainer, advancing by 9.9 per cent to close at ₦21.65 per share. It was closely followed by Austin Laz & Company, which appreciated by 9.82 per cent, Meyer with a 9.75 per cent gain, and C&I Leasing, which rose by 9.6 per cent.
On the decliners’ chart, Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals led the losers, shedding 9.38 per cent to settle at ₦5.80 per share. Other notable laggards included Tantalizers, which fell by 6.72 per cent, International Breweries with a 4.44 per cent decline, and NPF Microfinance Bank, down 3.13 per cent.
In terms of trading volume, Chams Plc dominated activity, accounting for 710 million shares exchanged. This was followed by Zenith Bank with 58.8 million shares, Access Holdings at 57.6 million shares, and FCMB Group, which recorded 44.1 million shares traded.
Market analysts attributed the lower activity levels to cautious investor sentiment and profit-taking ahead of year-end portfolio adjustments, while noting that selective buying in fundamentally strong stocks helped sustain overall market stability.
