The Nigerian Stock Exchange closed lower on September 24, 2025, as the All-Share Index fell 0.15% to 140,716. Dangote Sugar led gainers with a 10% jump, while Deap Capital topped losers. Banking stocks like Zenith and Access Holdings dominated trade volumes.
Market Overview
Trading activity slowed down significantly compared to the previous session. A total of 442.5 million shares exchanged hands in 21,678 deals, valued at approximately ₦16.96 billion. This represented a 42% decline in volume and a 34% dip in value from the prior trading day, highlighting a cautious stance among investors.
The market capitalization settled at ₦89.1 trillion, while the All-Share Index (ASI) closed at 140,716.10 points, shedding 213.50 points (-0.15%).
Gainers: Strong Performance in Sugar and Insurance
Despite the overall dip in the index, several equities posted impressive gains.
- Dangote Sugar Refinery (DANGSUGAR) led the pack, rallying +10.00% to close at ₦59.40.
- MeCure Industries (MECURE) surged +9.95%, extending its bullish run.
- Cornerstone Insurance (CORNERST) and Secure Electronic Technology (NSLTECH) both advanced by +8.00%, reflecting renewed investor appetite for insurance and small-cap stocks.
Losers: Profit-Taking Weighs on Market
On the flip side, some stocks bore the brunt of sell-offs.
- Deap Capital Management & Trust (DEAPCAP) declined –9.42%, closing at ₦1.73.
- Legend Internet (LEGENDINT) fell –9.26%.
- Wapic Insurance (WAPIC) and RT Briscoe (RTBRISCOE) lost –8.75% and –8.16% respectively.
- May & Baker (MAYBAKER) also retreated –7.14% amid renewed selling pressure.
Sector Performance: Mixed Results
Sectoral indices painted a mixed picture:
- NGX Banking Index: +1.29% – buoyed by strong demand for banking stocks like Zenith and Access Holdings.
- NGX Consumer Goods Index: +0.55% – supported by gains in Dangote Sugar.
- NGX Industrial Index: +0.25%.
- NGX Main Board Index: +0.31%.
- NGX Top-30 Index: –0.14%, dragged down by heavyweights.
- NGX Pension Index: +0.08%.
Most Active Stocks
In terms of volume, the most traded equities were:
- Zenith Bank – ~69 million shares.
- Access Holdings – ~47.3 million shares.
- FBN Holdings (FBNH) – ~46.1 million shares.
- Fidelity Bank – ~42.3 million shares.
This indicates continued investor focus on the financial services sector.
Outlook
The slight dip in the ASI underscores cautious investor sentiment, with profit-taking trimming earlier gains. However, strength in key banking and consumer goods stocks suggests selective opportunities remain attractive. Market watchers will be looking out for corporate earnings updates and macroeconomic indicators that could set the tone for the coming sessions.
Bottom Line: The NGX closed lower on September 24, 2025, as the ASI shed 0.15%, but strong performances from Dangote Sugar and banking stocks provided a silver lining in an otherwise cautious trading day.