Nigeria’s equities market closed the first quarter of 2026 on a strong note, with investors raking in over N29 trillion in gains, buoyed by ongoing economic reforms and rising market confidence.
Data from the Nigerian Exchange Limited shows that total market capitalisation surged to N129.2 trillion by the end of March, up significantly from N99.4 trillion at the beginning of January.
In the same period, the NGX All Share Index climbed 29.4%, closing at 201,287 points from 155,613 points. The index has consistently remained above the key 200,000 mark since March, signaling strong investor confidence and a resilient upward trend supported by steady liquidity inflows and institutional participation.
A month-by-month breakdown highlights the scale of gains: investors recorded N6.77 trillion in January, N17.61 trillion in February, and N5.45 trillion in March, despite some volatility and profit-taking during the period.
March trading reflected a generally positive sentiment, with strong-performing companies continuing to attract investor interest and sustain the market’s upward trajectory.
Globally, rising oil prices also played a supportive role, with Brent crude climbing above $117 per barrel amid Middle East tensions—boosting Nigeria’s foreign exchange outlook, though inflation concerns persist.
In the latest trading session, gains in stocks like MTN Nigeria and PZ Cussons Nigeria lifted the market, pushing the benchmark index up by 0.40%, alongside a similar increase in market capitalisation.
Trading activity remained robust, with the total value of transactions rising by 38.65% to N35.56 billion, while volume traded jumped 49.63% to 887.68 million units—further underscoring strong investor participation.
