Nigerian Equities Market Declines Amid Mixed Investor Sentiment – 27 August 2025
The Nigerian equities market closed in negative territory on Wednesday, with the NGX All-Share Index (NGXASI) dropping by 0.36%. This pulled the index down to 141,248.76 points, compared to the previous close of 141,761.36 points.
Despite the decline in the index, activity in the market was more robust. Trading volume increased by 7.47%, rising from 578.08 million units previously to 621.25 million units. Similarly, market turnover surged by 39.14%, with the value of transactions climbing from ₦12.02 billion to ₦16.73 billion, all executed across 26,961 deals.
However, market breadth leaned heavily negative. Only 19 stocks advanced, while 43 stocks declined, showing that sellers dominated the session. Out of all traded companies, 71 recorded an increase in trading volume, while 67 saw a decline.
Stocks That Gained Over the Last 5 Trading Days
Some stocks posted impressive performances over the past week. Veritas Kapital Assurance rose by over 11%, showing strong momentum especially on a month-to-date basis where it has gained more than 58%. Geregu Power Plc also advanced by 11% over five days, although it remains slightly negative for the year.
McNichols Plc appreciated by nearly 11%, while Oando Plc posted gains of over 10%, benefiting from renewed buying interest. Other notable climbers included NCR Nigeria, which advanced by 10% in five days, and Julius Berger, which gained close to 10%. Companies like SFS REIT, Berger Paints, Wapic Insurance, and Chams Plc also featured among the top performers.
Stocks That Lost Ground Over the Last 5 Trading Days
On the losers’ side, Lotus Halal ETF fell sharply, losing more than 27% in five days, including a 10% single-day drop. NSL Tech dropped by nearly 14%, while Caverton Offshore Support declined by over 12% due to persistent sell pressure.
Other significant decliners included UPL, which shed 12%, and Cornerstone Insurance alongside R.T. Briscoe, both of which dropped by the maximum daily limit of 10%. Additionally, Vetiva Industrial ETF, ABC Transport, Meristem Growth ETF, and NGX Group recorded losses ranging from nearly 10% to double digits.
Daily Top Gainers and Losers
For the day, the standout performer was the Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond ETF (VSPBONDETF), which closed at ₦247.80, posting a remarkable 17.40% gain. This was followed by the Vetiva Griffin 30 ETF (VETGRIF30), up 7.71%, while Deap Capital, Legend International, and Honeywell Flour Mills also posted modest daily gains.
On the flip side, the biggest losers of the day were Cornerstone Insurance and R.T. Briscoe, both declining by 10%. They were joined by SIAML ETF 40, Lotus Halal ETF, and ABC Transport, all of which posted sharp single-day losses.
Takeaway for Investors
The market continues to reflect mixed investor sentiment. While trading activity is picking up in terms of both volume and value, the sharp divergence between gainers and losers indicates selective buying. Institutional investors seem focused on specific stocks and ETFs, while many retail investors are still cashing out of weaker positions.
The dominance of decliners suggests caution in the short term, but the strong performance of bond-related ETFs like VSPBONDETF signals that investors are also hedging into fixed-income linked instruments, likely due to high interest rates in the broader economy.
The Nigerian equities market closed in negative territory on Wednesday, with the NGX All-Share Index (NGXASI) dropping by 0.36%. This pulled the index down to 141,248.76 points, compared to the previous close of 141,761.36 points.
Despite the decline in the index, activity in the market was more robust. Trading volume increased by 7.47%, rising from 578.08 million units previously to 621.25 million units. Similarly, market turnover surged by 39.14%, with the value of transactions climbing from ₦12.02 billion to ₦16.73 billion, all executed across 26,961 deals.
However, market breadth leaned heavily negative. Only 19 stocks advanced, while 43 stocks declined, showing that sellers dominated the session. Out of all traded companies, 71 recorded an increase in trading volume, while 67 saw a decline.
Stocks That Gained Over the Last 5 Trading Days
Some stocks posted impressive performances over the past week. Veritas Kapital Assurance rose by over 11%, showing strong momentum especially on a month-to-date basis where it has gained more than 58%. Geregu Power Plc also advanced by 11% over five days, although it remains slightly negative for the year.
McNichols Plc appreciated by nearly 11%, while Oando Plc posted gains of over 10%, benefiting from renewed buying interest. Other notable climbers included NCR Nigeria, which advanced by 10% in five days, and Julius Berger, which gained close to 10%. Companies like SFS REIT, Berger Paints, Wapic Insurance, and Chams Plc also featured among the top performers.
Stocks That Lost Ground Over the Last 5 Trading Days
On the losers’ side, Lotus Halal ETF fell sharply, losing more than 27% in five days, including a 10% single-day drop. NSL Tech dropped by nearly 14%, while Caverton Offshore Support declined by over 12% due to persistent sell pressure.
Other significant decliners included UPL, which shed 12%, and Cornerstone Insurance alongside R.T. Briscoe, both of which dropped by the maximum daily limit of 10%. Additionally, Vetiva Industrial ETF, ABC Transport, Meristem Growth ETF, and NGX Group recorded losses ranging from nearly 10% to double digits.
Daily Top Gainers and Losers
For the day, the standout performer was the Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond ETF (VSPBONDETF), which closed at ₦247.80, posting a remarkable 17.40% gain. This was followed by the Vetiva Griffin 30 ETF (VETGRIF30), up 7.71%, while Deap Capital, Legend International, and Honeywell Flour Mills also posted modest daily gains.
On the flip side, the biggest losers of the day were Cornerstone Insurance and R.T. Briscoe, both declining by 10%. They were joined by SIAML ETF 40, Lotus Halal ETF, and ABC Transport, all of which posted sharp single-day losses.
Takeaway for Investors
The market continues to reflect mixed investor sentiment. While trading activity is picking up in terms of both volume and value, the sharp divergence between gainers and losers indicates selective buying. Institutional investors seem focused on specific stocks and ETFs, while many retail investors are still cashing out of weaker positions.
The dominance of decliners suggests caution in the short term, but the strong performance of bond-related ETFs like VSPBONDETF signals that investors are also hedging into fixed-income linked instruments, likely due to high interest rates in the broader economy.