March 06, (THEWILL) — The Nigerian equities market closed the week with modest gains, as selective buying in key counters offset profit-taking in several mid-cap and blue-chip stocks.
The trading session on Friday opened with the Market Capitalisation at N126.317 trillion, and closed slightly higher at N126.436 trillion, reflecting a net gain of approximately N119 billion. The NGX All-Share Index (ASI) edged up from 196,807.15 to 196,968.15, signaling a measured upward movement in the benchmark index.
Market breadth remained mixed, with 35 gainers and 34 losers, indicating a session characterized by sector-specific rallies alongside profit-taking.
Top Gainers
ETERNA advanced 10.00 percent (N38.50 to N42.35)
PREMPAINTS climbed 9.77 percent (N13.30 to N14.60)
UNIONDICON gained 9.70 percent (N14.95 to N16.40)
FTGINSURE rose 9.56 percent (N1.36 to N1.49)
JOHNHOLT added 9.25 percent (N8.65 to N9.45)
Top Losers
RTBRISCOE declined -10.00 percent (N13.40 to N12.06)
SCOA fell -9.96 percent (N38.15 to N34.35)
MECURE dropped -9.96 percent (N68.30 to N61.50)
ABCTRANS lost -9.96 percent (N6.93 to N6.24)
BERGER depreciated -9.93 percent (N74.00 to N66.65)
Okomu Oil Palm, Presco Plc, Julius Berger, Cadbury Nigeria, and Nestle Nigeria closed the session flat, highlighting pockets of stability amid volatility.
Investor sentiment on Friday was cautiously optimistic, with selective buying in stocks like ETERNA, UNIONDICON, and FTGINSURE driving the session’s modest gains. The near-equal number of gainers and losers indicates that while some investors were repositioning for short-term opportunities, others engaged in profit-taking, particularly in mid-cap counters such as RTBRISCOE and SCOA.
Looking ahead, the market may witness sector-specific rallies, particularly in energy, consumer, and insurance stocks, as investors balance profit-taking with accumulation of fundamentally strong counters. The relatively flat performance in leading consumer goods and industrial stocks suggests that any broad-based rally could require sustained liquidity and positive macroeconomic cues.
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.
