The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) closed on a positive note on Thursday, recording a ₦309 billion increase in market capitalization as renewed investor demand lifted Dangote Cement Plc and 25 other equities.

At the close of trading, the All-Share Index (ASI) rose by 489.45 points, or 0.35%, to 142,036.23, while market capitalization appreciated to ₦89.87 trillion. This brought the year-to-date return to 38%, with a month-to-date growth of 0.1%.

Sector Performance

Gains were recorded in the Oil & Gas (+2.6%), Consumer Goods (+1.0%), and Industrial Goods (+0.1%) indices. However, the Insurance (-1.6%) and Banking (-0.2%) indices closed in the red.

Top Gainers

Chellarams surged 9.77% to ₦14.60

Austin Laz & Co. gained 9.67% to ₦2.95

The Initiates Plc (TIP) appreciated 8.08% to ₦12.97

Sovereign Trust Insurance rose 7.37% to ₦3.06

Aradel Holdings advanced 6.97% to ₦583.00

Top Losers

Guinea Insurance fell 9.70% to ₦1.49

Cornerstone Insurance dipped 8.68% to ₦6.52

Legend Internet dropped 7.27% to ₦5.10

Deap Capital declined 7.06% to ₦1.58

Thomas Wyatt Nigeria lost 6.49% to ₦2.45

Market Activity

Trading volume rose sharply by 142.09%, with 1.01 billion shares worth ₦24.65 billion exchanged in 23,281 deals.

Abbey Mortgage Bank led the activity chart with 401.07 million shares valued at ₦2.73 billion.

Fidelity Bank followed with 254.81 million units worth ₦5.27 billion.

UBA traded 23.22 million shares worth ₦1.10 billion.

The strong demand for Dangote Cement and other bellwether stocks underpinned the market’s rally, reinforcing investor confidence in the equities market.