The benchmark All Share Index advanced by 3.71 percent week on week to 162,298.08 points, pushing the market firmly into bullish territory.

The rally was significant enough to lift the equities market above the ₦100tn threshold during the week, a psychological milestone analysts say reflects improving sentiment and growing appetite for risk assets.

Momentum strengthened further on Friday, when the index gained 0.93 percent in a single session, taking the year-to-date return to 4.30 percent.

Total turnover declined compared with the previous week, with 4.164bn shares valued at ₦94.03bn, or about $61m, exchanged in 248,254 deals. This was down from 7.821bn shares worth ₦134.47bn, around $87m, traded a week earlier. Market activity was mixed across the five sessions, peaking midweek before easing toward Friday.

The financial services industry dominated activity, accounting for nearly two-thirds of total trading volume. About 2.65bn shares valued at ₦35.96bn, or roughly $23m, were traded in the sector. Services and ICT followed, reflecting continued investor interest in consumer-facing and technology-linked stocks.

Universal Insurance, Linkage Assurance, and Access Holdings were the most traded by volume, jointly accounting for more than 30 percent of total shares exchanged, though they represented a smaller share of overall value.

Market breadth remained firmly positive as eighty-four equities recorded price gains during the week, outpacing the previous week’s performance, while only 22 stocks declined.

The top gainers and losers

Stockbrokers do business on the trading floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange in Lagos, on October 8, 2008. [Photo by PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP via Getty Images]

Mining, healthcare, and industrial-related names featured prominently among the top gainers, led by Multiverse Mining and Exploration.

On the losing side, Aluminium Extrusion Industries and a handful of insurance and hospitality stocks posted declines.

Activity in exchange-traded products slowed, with volumes and values falling sharply week-on-week. All sectoral indices closed higher, except for the Sovereign Bond Index, which ended flat.

Analysts said the market’s ability to stay above the ₦100tn level could help sustain confidence and attract fresh inflows, supported by bargain hunting and expectations of improved corporate earnings in the months ahead.