Presco Drives ₦11.2bn Trade as NGX All-Share Index Climbs Above 171,000
Trading on the Nigerian Exchange closed on a strong bullish note as Presco Plc dominated market activity, helping to push the All-Share Index above the 171,000-point mark for the first time. The upbeat session reflected renewed investor confidence, driven by heavy demand for large-cap and fundamentally strong stocks across key sectors of the market.
Presco emerged as the most actively traded stock by value, with transactions worth about ₦11.2 billion recorded during the session. The strong interest in the agro-allied firm underscored sustained appetite for consumer and export-oriented stocks, especially companies with solid earnings records and dividend history. Market analysts noted that Presco’s recent financial performance and growth outlook have continued to attract institutional and high-net-worth investors.
The All-Share Index gained over 1,700 points to close at approximately 171,727 points, extending the market’s year-to-date gains and reinforcing the current bullish momentum. The rally also lifted total market capitalisation by more than ₦1 trillion to around ₦110 trillion, as rising share prices across heavyweight stocks boosted overall market valuation.
Other highly traded stocks by value included MTN Nigeria, Guaranty Trust Holding Company, Zenith Bank and Aradel Holdings, reflecting broad-based participation from both banking and industrial names.
The presence of these blue-chip stocks among the top trades highlighted growing confidence in fundamentally strong companies despite lingering macroeconomic concerns.
Market breadth was mixed, with several stocks recording notable gains while others faced profit-taking pressure. Analysts observed that the mixed performance suggests investors are becoming more selective, focusing on companies with strong balance sheets, earnings resilience and positive outlooks, rather than engaging in broad speculative buying.
Overall, the session reinforced the positive tone that has characterised the Nigerian equities market in recent weeks. The combination of rising index levels, increased traded value and growing participation signals improving sentiment, positioning the market for sustained activity if supportive economic and corporate earnings trends continue.
Comments