Nigerian Equities Market Hits Record N162.157 Trillion

As of September 18, 2026, the Nigerian equities market closed at a record N162.157 trillion in market capitalisation, surpassing the previous high of N161.8 trillion set on May 13, 2026. The benchmark All-Share Index (ASI) increased by 2.78% week-on-week, closing at 249,804.56 points from 243,052.74 points.

This rally was driven by substantial investor participation, with 525,991,720 shares exchanged across 44,239 deals on the final trading day. UPDC Real Estate Investment Trust led the gainers with a 34.91% increase to N18.55, followed by Sovereign Trust Insurance, which rose 30.95% to N2.20, and Mutual Benefits Assurance, which advanced 22.03% to N3.60.

Overall, 52 equities appreciated in price, while 32 depreciated, marking a significant improvement from the previous week. The NGX Premium Index was the best performer, up 5.06%.

Two corporate listings were added, including Critical Minerals Financing Corporation Plc's listing of 1,068,980,259 shares at N1.69 per share on September 17. Market sentiment is expected to be influenced by the ongoing IPO subscription window and Nigeria's reclassification to Frontier Market status by FTSE Russell, effective September 21.