Nigerian equities maintain bullish run, ASI crosses 162,000 mark
The Nigerian equities market closed Friday, January 9, 2026, on a positive note with the All-Share Index rising 0.93% to 162,298.1 points, firmly holding above the 160,000 threshold. Market capitalization gained to ₦103.7 trillion across 43,816 deals, up from ₦102.8 trillion in the previous session. Trading volume slowed slightly to 624 million shares from 645 million, indicating measured investor participation. Year-to-date performance now stands at 4.30%, signaling strong early-year confidence. Top performers included Industrial and Medical Gases, SCOA Nigeria, and McNichols Plc, each gaining 10%, while Aluminum Extrusion Industries and Austin Laz led losers with losses of 9.91% and 9.83%. eTranzact International dominated volume with 72.9 million shares traded, while Unilever Nigeria led in value at ₦1.7 billion. Among SWOOT stocks, LAFARGE gained 2.04% while International Breweries dropped 1.99% and Stanbic IBTC fell 1.79%. The FUGAZ banking group showed mixed performance with ACCESSCORP up 0.22%, GTCO rising 0.20%, Zenith Bank flat, while First HoldCo and UBA declined 1.91% and 0.68%. Mid-cap stocks continue attracting attention as investors selectively rebalance despite overall bullish sentiment. With the ASI comfortably above 162,000, analysts suggest sustained buying in mid- and large-cap counters could drive further gains, though minor pullbacks may occur as investors adjust positions. Are you positioned in these gaining mid-cap stocks or sticking with established blue-chips for stability?