NGX transactions plunge 379.1% as holiday-shortened week dampens trading activity

Transactions on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) fell sharply by 379.1 per cent week-on-week as trading activity slowed during a holiday-shortened week.

Investors traded a total of 2.876 billion shares valued at N63.832 billion in 80,229 transactions on the floor of the Exchange during the week under review. This represented a significant decline from the previous week, when 9.849 billion shares worth N305.843 billion were exchanged in 126,584 deals, according to the NGX weekly report released in Lagos.

The steep drop in turnover was largely attributed to fewer trading sessions, as the market opened for only three days. The Federal Government had declared Thursday, December 25, and Friday, December 26, 2025, as public holidays to mark the Christmas celebrations.

Despite the slowdown, the Financial Services Industry emerged as the most active sector, recording a turnover of 1.984 billion shares valued at N32.680 billion in 31,632 deals. This accounted for 68.99 per cent of the total equity turnover volume and 51.20 per cent of the total value.

The Investment Industry followed, with 208.695 million shares worth N2.264 billion traded in 640 deals, while the Conglomerates Industry ranked third with 147.002 million shares valued at N6.085 billion across 1,676 transactions.

Trading in Abbey Mortgage Bank Plc, VFD Group Plc and Custodian Investment Plc dominated market activity. The three equities accounted for a combined turnover of 1.471 billion shares valued at N14.684 billion in 1,093 deals, contributing 51.15 per cent of total volume and 23.00 per cent of total value traded.

Market performance, however, remained positive. The NGX All-Share Index rose by 0.97 per cent to close the week at 153,539.83 points, while market capitalisation increased by 0.98 per cent to N97.890 trillion.

Most sectoral indices ended the week higher, with the exception of the NGX Premium Index, NGX Insurance Index, NGX MERI Growth Index and NGX Lotus II Index, which declined by 0.51 per cent, 2.13 per cent, 0.23 per cent and 0.62 per cent respectively. The NGX Oil and Gas Index and the NGX Sovereign Bond Index closed flat.

A total of 44 equities recorded price appreciation during the week, compared with 55 in the previous week. Thirty equities declined in price, down from 36 previously, while 73 equities remained unchanged, higher than the 55 recorded a week earlier.

Aluminium Extrusion Industries, Austinlaz, International Breweries, Mecure Industries and First Holding Company led the gainers’ chart, with price increases of N4, 78 kobo, N2.50, N10.20 and N8.05 respectively. On the losers’ side were Legend Internet, Champion Breweries, Nem Insurance, AXA Mansard Insurance and Associated Bus Company, which shed between 23 kobo and N2.20 during the week.

In corporate actions, the NGX notified Trading Licence Holders that an additional 2,348,030,000 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each of Chams Holding Company Plc were listed on the Daily Official List of the Exchange on Tuesday, December 23, 2025. The new shares resulted from the company’s rights issue of 2,348,030,000 ordinary shares at N1.70 per share, on the basis of one new share for every two ordinary shares held as at the close of business on Monday, June 16, 2025.

Following the listing, the total issued and fully paid-up shares of Chams Holding Company Plc increased from 6,651,970,000 to 9,000,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each.

The NGX also informed Trading Licence Holders that trading in Fidson Healthcare Plc’s rights issue of 600,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N35.00 per share commenced on Friday, December 19. The offer is on the basis of one new ordinary share for every four existing shares held as at the close of business on Wednesday, November 12.