The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) closed negative on Monday as the All-Share Index (ASI) shed 0.24%, dropping by 347.10 points to settle at 141,498.20, compared to 141,845.30 in the previous session.

Market capitalization declined by ₦220 billion, closing at ₦89.52 trillion from ₦89.74 trillion recorded earlier. Despite the dip, market activity improved, with 488.5 million shares traded, higher than 431.1 million shares in the preceding session.

Top Gainers
Royal Exchange Plc (ROYALEX) led the gainers’ chart, rising 9.80% to close at ₦2.24. It was followed by Secure Electronic Technology (NSLTECH), which gained 6.67% to ₦0.80, while Chams rose 6.13% to ₦3.29. Prestige Assurance added 5.75% to settle at ₦1.84, and Daar Communications advanced 5.66% to close at ₦1.12.

Top Losers
On the flip side, McNichols Plc led the losers with a 10% decline to ₦3.33. SiAML Pension ETF 40 also dropped by 10% to ₦527.40, while Ikeja Hotel shed 9.80% to close at ₦20.70. Greenwich Asset ETF dipped 9.09% to ₦210.00, and FTN Cocoa Processors lost 8.33%, finishing at ₦5.50.

Analysts attributed the decline to profit-taking in large-cap stocks, even as small- and mid-cap equities showed resilience with notable price gains.