December 10, (THEWILL) — The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) closed slightly negative in today’s trading session as mild sell pressure across select mid- and large-cap stocks pulled the market into the red. Market Capitalisation opened at ₦93.658 trillion and dipped marginally to ₦93.624 trillion, while the All-Share Index (ASI) slipped from 146,940.29 points to 146,862.01 points.
Market breadth closed positive with 28 gainers outperforming 24 losers, reflecting a mixed but cautious trading mood.
Top Gainers for the Day
JAPAULGOLD advanced 10.00 percent (from ₦2.30 to ₦2.53).
PRESTIGE gained 9.40 percent (from ₦1.49 to ₦1.63).
MECURE rose 9.72 percent (from ₦32.40 to ₦34.90).
TIP appreciated 7.30 percent (from ₦11.65 to ₦12.50).
CONHALLPLC increased 6.97 percent (from ₦4.02 to ₦4.30).
Top Losers for the Day
CHAMS fell -10.00 percent (from ₦3.40 to ₦3.06).
HMCALL declined -8.88 percent (from ₦4.39 to ₦4.00).
FG202034S2 dropped -8.48 percent (from ₦116.89 to ₦106.98).
UACN shed -8.18 percent (from ₦88.00 to ₦80.80).
SUNUASSUR dipped -6.98 percent (from ₦4.30 to ₦4.00).
Unchanged stocks include MTN Nigeria Communications, Dangote Cement, Okomu Oil Palm, Julius Berger, and Lafarge Africa.
Today’s decline was driven by persistent profit-taking in recently rallied stocks and continued caution among institutional investors as liquidity conditions remain tight. The mixed breadth shows active bargain-hunting, but overall sentiment stayed muted, with traders positioning defensively ahead of key macroeconomic indicators.
Market performance is expected to remain range-bound in the near term, with slight volatility driven by portfolio rebalancing and reactions to developments in the fixed-income environment. Bargain-hunting may support select counters, but broad upside could remain limited unless stronger catalysts emerge.
Sam Diala is a Bloomberg Certified Financial Journalist with over a decade of experience in reporting Business and Economy. He is Business Editor at THEWILL Newspaper, and believes that work, not wishes, creates wealth.
