Trading on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) closed higher on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, as the market capitalisation of listed equities climbed to a record ₦163.06 trillion.
The market capitalisation increased by ₦374.14 billion, representing a 0.23 per cent rise from the ₦162.68 trillion recorded at the previous trading session. The NGX All-Share Index (ASI) also advanced by 576.36 points, closing at 251,191.02 points compared with 250,614.66 points on Tuesday.
The latest gain extended the positive performance of the Nigerian equities market, with investors maintaining buying interest across several sectors.
Market breadth was positive, with 43 stocks recording gains while 20 stocks declined during the session. The development reflected stronger demand for several listed companies, particularly in the financial services, insurance and consumer goods sectors.
Eterna Plc emerged as the biggest gainer of the day, rising by 10 per cent from ₦35 to ₦38.50 per share. Thomas Wyatt Nigeria followed with a 9.88 per cent increase to ₦2.78, while Critical Minerals Financing Corporation gained 9.76 per cent to close at ₦2.70.
Haldane McCall Plc also advanced by 9.70 per cent to ₦3.28, while Omatek Ventures gained 9.63 per cent to close at ₦1.48.
Several major companies also contributed to the market’s performance. Zenith Bank gained 2.27 per cent, First HoldCo rose 1.35 per cent and AccessCorp increased by 1.16 per cent. Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) gained 7.69 per cent, while NASCON Allied Industries rose 4.20 per cent.
Trading activity also increased substantially during the session. A total of approximately 1.59 billion shares changed hands in 49,736 deals, representing an almost 90 per cent increase in volume compared with the previous session.
Fortis Global Insurance recorded the highest trading volume, with about 860.31 million shares exchanged. Fidelity Bank followed with 170.72 million shares, while GTCO recorded 86.19 million shares.
In terms of value, Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) led with transactions worth about ₦11.85 billion. Zenith Bank and Fidelity Bank also recorded significant trading activity.
The banking sector recorded gains, with the NGX Banking Index rising to 2,748.63 points from 2,725.39 points. The Insurance Index also increased to 1,093.23 points, while the Consumer Goods Index moved higher to 4,092.56 points.
The Oil and Gas Index also edged higher, while the Industrial Goods Index recorded a marginal decline during the session.
On the losing side, Caverton Offshore Support Group recorded the largest decline, falling 9.09 per cent to ₦4.00. University Press declined by 9 per cent to ₦4.55, while WAPIC Insurance fell 6.30 per cent to ₦2.23.
Veritas Kapital Assurance lost 5.45 per cent to close at ₦1.04, while United Capital declined by 5 per cent to ₦17.10.
The market’s latest performance comes shortly after the CBN reduced its Monetary Policy Rate from 26.5 per cent to 23 per cent, a move that has increased attention around Nigerian equities, fixed-income securities and bank stocks.
The NGX’s September performance has also been supported by increased activity around major listed companies following Nigeria’s return to the FTSE Russell Frontier Market indexes, which became effective on September 21.
With the market capitalisation now at ₦163.06 trillion, investors will continue to monitor corporate earnings, interest rates, foreign investment flows and broader economic conditions as trading continues.
