Lagos: Stock market investors witnessed a significant rise in trading activities on the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. this week, as 1.854 billion shares worth N56.025 billion were exchanged in 51,386 transactions. This marks a notable increase from the previous week’s trading of 1.525 billion shares valued at N43.006 billion in 51,156 deals.

According to News Agency of Nigeria, the value of transactions on the Exchange soared by 30.26 per cent, resulting in investors gaining N13.019 billion. The market operated for only four trading days this week due to public holidays declared by the Federal Government on Friday, April 18, and Monday, April 21, for the 2025 Easter celebrations.

Fidelity Bank Plc, Access Holdings Plc, and Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc were the top three equities traded, accounting for 797.873 million shares worth N22.043 billion across 8,618 transactions. These transactions contributed 43.03 per cent and 39.34 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value, respectively.

The Financial Services sector led the activity chart with 1.266 billion shares valued at N29.400 billion traded in 24,351 deals, contributing 68.28 per cent and 52.48 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value, respectively. The ICT industry followed with 136.707 million shares worth N12.472 billion in 2,974 deals, while the Consumer Goods Industry recorded a turnover of 118.617 million shares valued at N4.415 billion in 5,869 deals.

The NGX All-Share Index and Market Capitalisation appreciated by 1.46 per cent and 1.47 per cent to close the week at 105,752.61 and N66.465 trillion, respectively. All other indices finished higher, except for NGX Premium, NGX Oil and Gas, NGX Industrial Goods, NGX Growth, and NGX Sovereign Bond Indices, which saw declines of 0.43 per cent, 0.07 per cent, 3.44 per cent, 0.41 per cent, and 0.06 per cent, respectively.

Sixty-four equities appreciated in price during the week, an improvement from the 31 equities recorded the previous week. In contrast, 27 equities depreciated in price, compared to 44 in the previous week, while 57 equities remained unchanged, down from the 72 recorded previously.

The top five gainers for the week included International Breweries, Nascon Allied Industries Plc, Africa Prudential Plc, Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, and Ikeja Hotel Plc, with increases of 40.00 per cent, 26.22 per cent, 25.64 per cent, 21.22 per cent, and 21.00 per cent, respectively. These companies gained N2.20, N11.00, N3.50, N7.85, and N2.10, respectively.

Conversely, the top decliners for the week were VFD Group Plc, John Holt Plc, Dangote Cement Plc, Tripple Gee and Company Plc, and Haldane McCall Plc, which lost N78.90, N1.44, N48.00, 22k, and 52k, respectively.