Nigerian Share Index Surges Past 194,000 Mark

On February 20, 2026, the Nigerian All-Share Index increased by 0.99%, closing at 194,989.8 points, marking a significant milestone as it breached the 194,000 psychological barrier. This upward movement was primarily driven by bullish activities in large-cap stocks, with Fidson, Jaiz Bank (NGX: JAIZBANK), and MPF Microfinance Bank being the top advancers, each achieving a 10% gain limit.

Despite the increase in prices, market volume saw a slight decline, with 820 million shares traded compared to 898 million the previous day. The equity capital stood at ₦125.1 trillion, up from ₦123.9 trillion the prior day.

Zenith Bank (NGX: ZENITHBANK) and MTN Nigeria continued to show bullish momentum, contributing significantly to the trading volume. Zenith Bank led in value traded at ₦3.7 billion, followed by MTN Nigeria at ₦2.4 billion.

The market sentiment remains predominantly positive, with expectations that the index may soon test levels of 195,000 to 196,000.