Nigeria’s equities market reached a historic milestone on Monday as the Nigerian Exchange Limited All-Share Index (ASI) crossed the 200,000-point mark, buoyed by strong investor demand and gains across major sectors of the market.
The benchmark index climbed by 1.55 percent to close at 201,474.89 points, up from 198,407.30 points recorded in the previous trading session.
The milestone pushed the market’s month-to-date (MTD) return to 4.48 percent, while the year-to-date (YTD) return rose to 29.47 percent, reflecting sustained bullish momentum in the equities market.
Market capitalisation also increased significantly to ₦129.33 trillion, compared with ₦127.36 trillion in the previous session, driven largely by strong performances from large-cap stocks.
Reacting to the development, the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Exchange Group, Temi Popoola, described the achievement as a clear signal of growing investor confidence in Nigeria’s capital market.
According to him, ongoing economic reforms are strengthening domestic capital formation and encouraging more participation in the market.
“ Nigeria’s ongoing reforms are strengthening domestic capital formation, and the market is responding positively. Increased participation by local investors, improving corporate fundamentals, and continued market modernisation are reinforcing the role of the capital market as a catalyst for long-term wealth creation and sustainable economic growth,” he said.
Trading activity remained robust during the session as the number of deals rose to 72,700, while investors traded 948.1 million shares valued at ₦49.15 billion. Financial services stocks accounted for the largest share of transactions by volume, reflecting strong investor appetite in the sector.
The Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Exchange Limited, Jude Chiemeka, attributed the milestone to sustained investor demand and active market participation.
“Crossing the 200,000-point mark reflects strong investor engagement and consistent demand across key sectors. At Nigerian Exchange Limited, we remain focused on deepening market liquidity, enhancing trading infrastructure, and ensuring efficient price discovery to support a resilient and transparent marketplace,” he said.
Top gainers during the trading session included BUA Cement Plc, Premier Paints Plc, John Holt Plc, Guinea Insurance Plc, and FTN Cocoa Processors Plc.
However, some stocks closed lower, with decliners including VFD Group Plc, Royal Exchange Plc, Omatek Ventures Plc, Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc, and Regency Alliance Insurance Plc.
Market analysts say the new milestone underscores the continued momentum in Nigeria’s equities market, which is attracting increasing interest from both domestic and institutional investors amid ongoing reforms and improving corporate performance.
