Trading activity on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NGX) fell sharply on Thursday, with significant declines recorded across key performance indicators.
At the close of the session, investors traded 349,257,224 shares across 18,718 deals, representing a total market value of ₦9.29 billion.
The figures mark a steep downturn compared to the previous trading day of Wednesday, November 19, as the exchange posted a 61% decline in volume, a 60% drop in turnover, and a 7% reduction in the number of deals, highlighting notably weaker market sentiment. Despite the slowdown, the NGX maintained a formidable market capitalisation of ₦92.6 trillion, according to data made available by the NGX.
A total of 130 listed equities participated in today’s trading session, but market breadth leaned heavily negative, closing with 14 gainers against 38 losers.
NCR Nigeria Plc led the pack of gainers with a 10% price increase to ₦37.40 per share. It was followed by Royal Exchange (+7.57%), C&I Leasing (+6%), and LivingTrust Mortgage Bank (+3.87%).
On the flip side, Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals topped the losers’ chart, shedding 10% to close at ₦4.95 per share. Omatek Ventures (-10%), Tantalizers (-9.75%), and International Energy Insurance (-9.62%) also recorded significant losses.
In terms of trading volume, Fidelity Bank emerged as the most active stock of the day, with 54.3 million shares exchanged. It was followed by FCMB Group (30.3m), Tantalizers (29.7m), and Guaranty Trust Holding Company (25.7m).
News.ng reports that the downturn in activity and negative market breadth suggest heightened caution among investors as the market moves deeper into the final trading weeks of the year.
