…The NASD over-the-counter market also opened the week lower, with the NASD Securities Index (NSI) declining by 0.46% to 4,331.91 points.
MON OCT 19 2026-theGBJournal| Nigeria’s equities market opened the week lower, shedding N1.46 trillion in market value as industrial and banking stocks dragged the benchmark index down.
The benchmark NGX All-Share Index (ASI) falling 0.91% to close at 245,278.34 points, while market capitalisation declined by 0.91% to N159.26 trillion.
The downturn moderated the benchmark index’s year-to-date (YTD) return to 57.62%, from 59.07% in the previous session, as losses in major stocks outweighed gains elsewhere.
Dangote Cement Plc led the decline among key stocks, falling 5.50%. Zenith Bank Plc shed 1.59%, while Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO) lost 1.44%. Gains in Sterling Financial Holdings Company Plc (+0.65%), FCMB Group Plc (+0.46%) and Unilever Nigeria Plc (+0.49%) were insufficient to offset the broader market weakness.
Sectoral performance was broadly negative. The industrial goods index led the losers, declining by 2.90%, followed by the banking index, which fell 1.40%. The insurance index shed 0.89%.
Despite the decline in share prices, market activity strengthened. Total trading volume rose by 35.57% to 349.40 million units, while transaction value increased by 37.94% to N18.03 billion. The number of deals climbed by 34.84% to 43,193.
Access Holdings Plc (ACCESSCORP) led trading by volume, with 23.44 million units exchanged, despite its share price falling 1.93%. Aradel Holdings Plc (ARADEL) topped the value chart, with transactions worth N3.84 billion, while its share price remained unchanged.
Market breadth remained negative at 0.43x, reflecting 18 advancers against 42 decliners. Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc (CMFC) led the gainers, rising 9.97%, while Vitafoam Nigeria Plc (VITAFOAM) was the worst performer, falling 10.00%.
Meanwhile, the NASD over-the-counter market also opened the week lower, with the NASD Securities Index (NSI) declining by 0.46% to 4,331.91 points.
Market capitalisation contracted by 0.46% to N2.60 trillion, while the market’s year-to-date return fell to 22.24%, from 22.80% in the previous session.
Trading activity weakened sharply, with total volume and value falling by 97.92% and 87.51%, respectively. The number of trades, however, increased by 37.50% to 33.
SDFSTTRUSTMB led the gainers, advancing by 9.76%, while SDFCWAMCO was the biggest decliner, shedding 7.71%.
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