March 16, (THEWILL) — The Nigerian equities market opened the week on a bullish note on Monday, as strong buying interest in large-cap stocks lifted the benchmark index above the 201,000-point threshold. Market capitalisation rose from ₦127.360 trillion to ₦129.329 trillion, while the NGX All-Share Index advanced from 198,407.30 to 201,474.89, reflecting renewed investor confidence.
The price session recorded 38 gainers and 30 losers, indicating broadly positive sentiment across the market.
Top Gainers
BUA Cement Plc advanced by 10.00 percent (₦270.00 to ₦297.00).
Premier Paints Plc gained 9.79 percent (₦19.40 to ₦21.30).
John Holt Plc appreciated by 9.52 percent (₦9.45 to ₦10.35).
Guinea Insurance Plc rose by 9.38 percent (₦1.28 to ₦1.40).
Fortis Global Insurance Plc increased by 9.32 percent (₦1.18 to ₦1.29).
Top Losers
VFD Group Plc declined by 10.00 percent (₦12.50 to ₦11.25).
Royal Exchange Plc lost 9.63 percent (₦1.87 to ₦1.69).
Omatek Ventures Plc fell by 9.62 percent (₦2.60 to ₦2.35).
Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc dropped 9.00 percent (₦2.11 to ₦1.92).
Regency Alliance Insurance Plc depreciated by 8.94 percent (₦1.23 to ₦1.12).
Meanwhile, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, DN Tyre and Rubber Plc, Nestlé Nigeria Plc, Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Unity Bank Plc, and Unilever Nigeria Plc closed the session flat, among others.
Investor sentiment for the session remained moderately positive, supported by strong demand for industrial and mid-cap stocks, which helped sustain the market’s upward momentum despite pockets of profit-taking.
Market analysts expect cautious optimism to persist in the near term as investors continue to position in fundamentally strong stocks, although intermittent profit-taking could moderate the pace of gains.
Ogochukwu Onwaeze is a writer specializing in business and economic journalism. At THEWILL News Media, she translates market trends, financial developments, and policy shifts into clear and engaging stories.
