Nigerian shares ended the shortened Christmas trading week with an upward trend, as better investor confidence pushed the market up by N954 billion, even though there were fewer trading days. The NGX All-Share Index and total market value both increased, driven by rises in major big- and medium-sized companies, although trade volume decreased compared to the previous week because of the holiday season, according to TEMITOPE AINA.
The Nigerian Exchange Limited operated for only three trading days during the week after the Federal Government announced Thursday, 25 December, and Friday, 26 December 2025, as national holidays to celebrate Christmas. Even with the reduced schedule, overall market mood stayed positive, showing continued investor trust going into the end of the year.
By the end of trading on Wednesday, 24 December, the All-Share Index increased by 0.97 percent, closing at 153,539.83 points, as market capitalization grew by 0.98 percent to reach N97.890tn compared to the prior week's level. The rise was driven by positive performance in multiple market segments, which offset declines seen in some indexes.
Nevertheless, market activity slowed down from the prior week, mainly because of fewer trading days. In total, 2.876 billion shares worth N63.832 billion were traded across 80,229 transactions during the week, as opposed to 9.849 billion shares valued at N305.843 billion transacted in 126,584 deals in the previous week.
The financial services sector led trading volumes, handling 1.984 billion shares worth N32.680 billion through 31,632 transactions. This accounted for 68.99 percent of the overall equity turnover volume and 51.20 percent of the total value. The Investment Services sector came next with 208.695 million shares valued at N2.264 billion across 640 trades, whereas the Conglomerates sector took third place with 147.002 million shares amounting to N6.085 billion in 1,676 transactions.
Three stocks—Abbey Mortgage Bank Plc, VFD Group Plc, and Custodian Investment Plc—dominated trading activities throughout the week. These three contributed a total of 1.471 billion shares worth N14.684 billion across 1,093 transactions, making up 51.15 percent of the overall market volume and 23.00 percent of the total trade value.
An analysis of daily transactions revealed that on Monday, 22 December, traders conducted 451.485 million shares worth N13.003 billion through 33,290 trades. On Tuesday, 23 December, volume rose to 677.432 million shares valued at N20.784 billion across 27,576 trades. The highest level of activity was recorded on Wednesday, 24 December, when 1.747 billion shares were traded for N30.045 billion in 19,363 transactions, indicating heightened participation before the holiday period.
The market showed overall positivity, but it was somewhat less strong than the previous week. A total of 44 stocks saw their prices rise, versus 55 in the prior week. Thirty stocks experienced price drops, a decrease from 36 in the earlier period, whereas 73 stocks ended flat, an increase from the 55 noted in the previous week.
The overall sector performance remained mostly upbeat. All key indexes ended the day up, except for the Premium Index, Insurance Index, MERI Growth Index, and Lotus II Index, which fell by 0.51 percent, 2.13 percent, 0.23 percent, and 0.62 percent respectively. The Oil and Gas Index and the Sovereign Bond Index finished unchanged for the week.
In the list of top performers, Aluminium Extrusion Industries Plc topped the charts with a rise of 32.39 percent, ending at N16.35. Austin Laz & Company Plc came next with an increase of 32.23 percent to reach N3.20, whereas International Breweries Plc saw a growth of 20.83 percent to close at N14.50. Mecure Industries Plc increased by 18.55 percent, First HoldCo Plc recorded a 17.91 percent rise, and FTN Cocoa Processors Plc went up by 15.38 percent. Additional significant gains were noted for International Energy Insurance Plc, Ikeja Hotel Plc, Guinness Nigeria Plc, and Eunisell Interlinked Plc.
On the flip side, Legend Internet Plc was at the top of the losers' list, dropping 11.71 percent to finish at N4.90. Champion Breweries Plc came next with an 11.50 percent decrease, whereas NEM Insurance Plc fell by 8.37 percent. Additionally, AXA Mansard Insurance Plc, Associated Bus Company Plc, Ellah Lakes Plc, Prestige Assurance Plc, MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, Daar Communications Plc, and Regency Assurance Plc all ended the week with losses.
Trading activity in the Exchange Traded Products sector remained quiet throughout the week. A total of 586,286 units, valued at N58.597 million, were exchanged in 661 transactions, as opposed to 130.300 million units worth N3.079 billion that were handled in 1,012 trades during the prior week. The Stanbic ETF 30 led the segment in terms of value, whereas Vetiva exchange-traded funds saw significant trading volume.
Federal Government bonds trading also saw a decrease from one week to the next. Investors exchanged 32,952 units totaling N34.276 million across 21 transactions, whereas in the previous week, they traded 108,736 units amounting to N110.569 million in 43 trades. The bond that experienced the highest volume of trade by value was FGSUK2033S6.
Within the realm of corporate activities, the Nigerian Exchange Limited declared the listing of an extra 2.348 billion ordinary shares priced at 50 kobo each from Chams Holding Company Plc on Tuesday, 23 December 2025. These supplementary shares resulted from the firm's rights offering valued at N1.70 per share, based on acquiring one new share for every two existing ordinary shares owned as of 16 June 2025. After this listing, the company's overall issued and fully paid-up shares reached 9.000 billion.
In addition, NGX informed traders with licenses about the implementation of the code for participating in the subscription process for Fidson Healthcare Plc's rights offering. The rights were launched on 19 December 2025, allowing shareholders to purchase 600 million common shares priced at 50 kobo each for N35.00 apiece, based on receiving one additional share for every four shares currently owned, and will end on 30 January 2026.
In general, the upbeat sentiment during the Christmas period highlights ongoing investor enthusiasm for Nigerian stocks, despite fewer trading days, as market players prepare for the last part of the year and anticipate developments related to company profits and policies in the upcoming year.
Supplied by SyndiGate Media Inc. Syndigate.info ).
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