Trading activity on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) recorded a sharp increase in the week ended August 14, 2026, as investors exchanged 12.153 billion shares valued at N176.058 billion across 224,146 deals.
The performance represents a 126.8 percent increase in traded volume compared with the 5.359 billion shares worth N139.053 billion exchanged in 261,869 deals in the previous week. Turnover value also increased by 26.6 percent, while the number of deals declined by about 14.4 percent.
Despite the surge in trading activity, the broader equities market closed lower as investors took profits following recent gains. The NGX All-Share Index declined by 1.20 percent to 242,619.20 points, while market capitalisation fell by 1.19 percent to N156.624 trillion.
The broader market remains firmly positive for the year despite the week’s moderation, with the NGX All-Share Index recording a year-to-date (YtD) return of 55.91 percent as of August 14.
The increase in activity was also reflected in other trading indicators. Market depth improved to 27.76 percent from 21.67 percent in the previous week, while average daily value traded rose to N35.21 billion from N27.81 billion.
The Financial Services Industry dominated market activity, accounting for 11.212 billion shares valued at N88.991 billion across 102,246 deals. The sector contributed 92.25 percent of total equity turnover by volume and 50.55 percent by value.
The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Industry followed with 246.127 million shares worth N51.605 billion traded in 27,169 deals, while the Services Industry ranked third with 198.195 million shares valued at N1.995 billion across 13,747 deals.
Activity was particularly concentrated in three equities; Fortis Global Insurance Plc, Cornerstone Insurance Plc and Consolidated Hallmark Holdings Plc. The trio accounted for 9.488 billion shares worth N36.219 billion in 1,781 deals, representing 78.07 percent of total equity turnover volume and 20.57 percent of turnover value for the week.
The fixed-income segment also recorded increased activity, with investors trading 232,979 units valued at N226.258 million in 35 deals, compared with 117,372 units worth N121.249 million in the previous week.
In the Exchange Traded Products segment, 2.346 million units valued at N501.051 million were traded across 5,291 deals.
Market breadth, however, showed some improvement. 26 equities appreciated during the week, unchanged from the previous week, while the number of declining equities eased to 59 from 63. 62 equities closed unchanged, compared with 58 in the preceding week.
The market breadth ratio consequently improved to 0.69x from 0.62x in the previous week, indicating a narrower gap between gainers and decliners despite the decline in the benchmark index.
Trans-Nationwide Express Plc led the gainers’ chart with a 32.09 percent increase, followed by International Energy Insurance Plc, which advanced 31.68 percent, and Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc, which gained 13.77 percent. On the other side, AVA Capital Plc topped the losers’ chart with a 34.55 percent decline, followed by Unilever Nigeria Plc, down 18.94 percent, and Zichis Agro Allied Industries Plc, which shed 15.08 percent.
Meanwhile, Lasaco Assurance Plc expanded its share capital following the listing of 9.236 billion additional ordinary shares on the NGX Daily Official List on Wednesday, August 12, 2026.
The additional shares arose from the company’s rights issue of five new ordinary shares for every six existing shares held as of February 20, 2026. Following the listing, Lasaco Assurance’s issued and fully paid-up share capital increased from 11.084 billion shares to 20.320 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each.
Sectoral performance has been even stronger in parts of the market, with the NGX Oil and Gas Index up 94.81 percent year-to-date, followed by the NGX Premium Index at 85.14 percent and the NGX Industrial Goods Index at 82.84 percent, underscoring the strength of the market’s gains despite the week’s profit-taking.