Trading activities on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) closed the week on a bullish note on Friday, February 6, 2026, as investors ramped up participation across the market, pushing volumes, turnover and the number of deals significantly higher compared to the previous trading session. A total of 953.71 million shares, valued at N43.04 billion, were exchanged in 50,984 deals, reflecting a marked improvement in market activity and sentiment.
Data from the exchange showed that, compared with Thursday, February 5, the market recorded a 34 per cent increase in trading volume, a 94 per cent jump in turnover and an 11 per cent rise in the number of deals executed. The strong close capped a positive end to the trading week and underscored renewed investor interest in both blue-chip and mid-tier stocks. The market capitalisation of the NGX stood at N110.2 trillion at the close of trading, maintaining the exchange’s position as a key barometer of economic and investment activity in the country.
Market breadth was firmly positive, with more gainers than losers across the board. Out of the 132 listed equities that participated in trading, 60 stocks closed in the green, while 19 recorded price declines, indicating a broadly optimistic mood among investors.
Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) led the gainers’ table, appreciating by 10 per cent to close at N136.40 per share. The stock’s strong performance placed it at the forefront of the day’s rally and reflected sustained interest in aviation-related and logistics stocks amid expectations of improved sector performance. It was followed by Deap Capital Management & Trust, which also gained 10 per cent, while Omatek Ventures added 10 per cent to its share price. Zichis Agro Allied Industries rounded out the top performers with a 9.98 per cent increase, just shy of the maximum daily gain.
On the flip side, The Initiates Plc emerged as the worst-performing stock of the session, shedding 9.74 per cent to close at N19.45 per share. Daar Communications also came under selling pressure, declining by 7.32 per cent, while United Capital fell by 6.55 per cent. Coronation Insurance completed the list of notable laggards with a 5.71 per cent drop in its share price, reflecting profit-taking and cautious positioning by some investors in selected financial and services stocks.
In terms of market activity, trading was dominated by a handful of heavily traded equities, with Fidelity Bank leading the volume chart after investors exchanged 92.4 million shares in the stock. Chams followed closely with 69.2 million shares traded, underscoring sustained interest in the company’s equity. Deap Capital Management & Trust, which also featured among the top gainers, recorded 59.1 million shares in turnover, while Access Holdings saw 57.2 million shares change hands, placing it among the most actively traded stocks of the day.
The strong performance in volume and value traded suggests that investors are increasingly positioning themselves ahead of anticipated corporate earnings releases and broader macroeconomic developments. The sharp rise in turnover, in particular, points to the presence of large-ticket transactions in some counters, as institutional and high-net-worth investors adjusted their portfolios.
Analysts note that the positive market breadth and the dominance of gainers over losers signal improving sentiment, even as pockets of profit-taking remain evident in some stocks that had previously recorded strong rallies. The mix of interest in both financial stocks such as Fidelity Bank and Access Holdings, and in smaller-cap names like Deap Capital Management & Trust and Omatek Ventures, also indicates a broad-based participation across different segments of the market.
With the market capitalisation holding firm at N110.2 trillion and trading activity picking up sharply, the NGX appears to be heading into the new week on a relatively strong footing. However, market watchers are expected to continue to monitor developments in the domestic economy, corporate earnings, and policy signals, which are likely to shape investor behaviour and determine whether the current momentum can be sustained in the sessions ahead.
