WED AUG 20 2025-theGBJournal| Nigerian stocks fell on Wednesday, pressured by a broad decline in heavyweight stocks for the second day in a row.
Broad-based selling pressure was also seen across major counters such as GTCO (-5.11%), TRANSCORP (-5.72%), and STANBIC (-2.46%), which outweighed mild buying interest in ZENITHBANK (+1.42%), OANDO (+4.04%), and HONYFLOUR (+0.22%).
The year-to-date (YTD) return consequently moderated to 37.54% from the 38.56% recorded in the previous session.
The market capitalisation also declined by N662.51 billion (or 0.73%), slipping below the N90 trillion threshold to settle at N89.56 trillion.
Across sectors, all major indices closed in the red except Oil & Gas index (+0.11%), which recorded a slight uptick driven by buying interest in OANDO (+4.04%).
The Insurance index (-7.20%) saw intensified profit-taking in market leaders, such as AIICO (-8.37%) and NEM (-6.79%), dragging the index downward to its lowest level this month.
Similarly, the Consumer Goods index (-1.90%), the Banking index (-1.22%), and the Industrial index (-0.01%) also closed in negative territory.
Market activity declined considerably, with trade volume declined and transaction value lower by 29.75% and 26.76%, respectively.
CHAMPION (+9.97%) topped the volume chart with 54.52mn units exchanged, while ZENITHBANK (+1.42%) led the value board with trades worth N2.13bn.
Market breadth closed negative at 0.36x, reflecting more decliners than gainers. AUSTINLAZ (+10.0%) topped the sixteen gainers, while GUINNESS (-9.98%) led the fifty loser’s table.
In the NASD market today, the NASD Securities Index (NSI) and market capitalisation inched up by 0.34%, closing at 3,641.56 points and N2.18trn, respectively.
Market activity strengthened, as volume and transaction value rose by 50.63% and 35.20%, respectively.
SDFOODCPT (+3.39%) advanced as the leading gainer, whereas SDUBNPROP (-10.53%) led the market laggards.
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