The Nigerian stock market closed on Wednesday, 13 May 2026, on a marginally positive note, as the NGX All-Share Index rose by 0.04% to settle at 252,508.2 points.
This represents a 96.5-point gain from the previous close of 252,411.7, supported by steady trading activity of 1.6 billion units.
Market capitalisation also strengthened, with total equity value increasing to N161.8 trillion from N161.6 trillion in the prior session, reflecting sustained investor participation.
Activity during the session was dominated by First HoldCo, which led both volume and value charts with 575.1 million shares worth N44.4 billion.
Other major contributors included Access Holdings and United Bank for Africa, which recorded strong trading volumes alongside Fidelity Bank and Wema Bank.
The market maintained a positive year-to-date return of 62.27%, slightly up from 62.20% in the previous trading session, indicating continued overall bullish sentiment.
On the gainers’ chart, Daar Communications, Fidson Healthcare, Livestock Feeds, and CWG all posted the maximum daily gain of 10%.
However, some counters experienced significant losses, with NCR (Nigeria) and Zichis Agro-Allied leading decliners after shedding 10% and 9.99% respectively.
In terms of value traded, First HoldCo led the market with N44.4 billion, followed by MTN Nigeria at N18.5 billion, while NGX Group, UBA, and Aradel also recorded significant turnover.
Sector performance was mixed, with the banking index declining by 2.53% and oil and gas slipping slightly by 0.03%, reflecting a mild profit-taking phase after recent gains.
However, industrial goods rose by 0.93%, insurance gained 0.68%, and consumer goods added 0.23%, helping to offset losses in other segments and keep the market broadly supported.
Despite easing momentum compared to earlier sessions in the week, analysts say the market remains firmly in bullish territory, supported by strong liquidity and sustained investor interest.
