The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) closed the week on a mixed note on Friday, August 8, 2025, as gains in insurance and select blue-chip stocks were offset by losses in other sectors, leading to a slight dip in the benchmark index despite improvements in market activity.
Data from the NGX showed that investors traded a total of 2.22 billion shares valued at ₦32.42 billion in 35,023 deals. The day’s performance reflected a 12% increase in traded volume and a 20% improvement in turnover compared to the previous session on Thursday, August 7. The overall market capitalisation stood at ₦92.2 trillion.
Market Breadth Positive
Out of 125 equities that participated in the day’s trading, 42 recorded price gains while 30 declined, indicating a positive market breadth.
Champion Breweries topped the gainers’ chart with a 10% rise to close at ₦14.41 per share. It was followed closely by Union Dicon Salt (+10%), Universal Insurance Company (+10%), and Guinness Nigeria (+9.99%).
On the flip side, Abbey Mortgage Bank shed 9.87% to close at ₦6.30 per share, leading the losers’ table. Custodian & Allied (-8.48%), Deap Capital Management & Trust (-7.53%), and The Initiates (-7.34%) also recorded significant declines.
Insurance Sector Dominates Volume Chart
The day’s activity was heavily driven by the insurance sector, with Linkage Assurance leading in volume at 586 million shares, followed by Universal Insurance Company (213 million), AIICO Insurance (179 million), and Mutual Benefits Assurance (138 million).
The surge in insurance equities was reflected in the NGX Insurance Index, which gained 6.11% on Friday, extending its one-week return to 41% and year-to-date growth to a staggering 74.18%.
Index Performance
The NGX All-Share Index (ASI) fell by 814.20 points or 0.56% to close at 145,756.51. Despite Friday’s dip, the ASI posted a weekly gain of 3.18%, a four-week gain of 17.12%, and a year-to-date growth of 41.61%.
Other key sectoral performances included:
- NGX Top 30 Index: -0.7% (1-week: +2.74%; YTD: +39.76%)
- NGX Oil & Gas Index: +0.38% (1-week: +0.17%; YTD: -10%)
- NGX Banking Index: +0.19% (1-week: -0.75%; YTD: +48.15%)
- NGX Consumer Goods Index: -0.02% (1-week: +8.27%; YTD: +86.11%)
- NGX Main Board Index: -0.19% (1-week: +4.64%; YTD: +39.26%)
Outlook
Market analysts noted that the strong performance of insurance stocks continues to be a key driver for the NGX in recent weeks, buoyed by improved investor sentiment and sectoral earnings expectations. However, the slight drop in the ASI suggests profit-taking in some large-cap stocks ahead of next week’s trading sessions.
