NGX Closes 1,106 Points Higher on Renewed Buying
The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) closed at 190,427.96 points on 18 February 2026, marking a 0.58% increase from the previous close of 189,321.24. This recovery follows a session with record-breaking volume of 3.6 billion shares traded across 68,693 deals, a significant jump from prior activity. FCMB Group dominated trading with 2.9 billion shares worth N35.8 billion, contributing to a market capitalization of N122.2 trillion. Mid-cap stocks like Seplat Energy (up 8.33%) and International Breweries (up 2.78%) drove momentum, while banking sector gains offset previous losses. The index reclaimed the 190,000 threshold, pushing year-to-date returns to 22.37%. Sustained strength in large-cap names could propel the benchmark toward 191,000 and 192,000 levels.