NGX Market Wrap 1 Oct 2026 | Plus234Feed

The NGX ended October trading on a cautious note Thursday, with the All-Share Index shedding just 0.43% to close at 251,211.67 points. While the decline was modest, it reflects a market in consolidation mode rather than directional conviction.

Trading activity remained healthy, with 44,469 deals executed and ₦53.6 billion in total value traded. Volume reached 1.04 billion shares, driven primarily by VFDGroup's dominant 367.3 million share turnover—nearly double its nearest competitor—suggesting concentrated trading in a key liquidity play.

The gainers-losers split reveals a market lacking clear direction. Five stocks rallied between 9.76% and 10.00%, led by HMCALL's ₦0.31 jump to ₦3.41 and CMFC's ₦0.39 gain to ₦4.32. Meanwhile, LEARNAFRCA led decliners with a sharp 10.00% fall of ₦0.85 to ₦7.65, while THOMASWY declined ₦0.29 to ₦2.67. LOTUSHAL15's ₦8.60 drop to ₦131.30 (-6.15%) signals potential profit-taking in higher-priced counters.

The top five most-traded stocks—VFDGroup, UACN, ABBEYBANK, CHAMS, and GTCO—accounted for substantial volume, yet the index still retreated, suggesting bargain-hunting activity may be competing with strategic profit realisation.

Market capitalisation held steady at ₦163.1 trillion, preserving investor wealth despite the daily pullback.

Investors should monitor whether Friday's session builds conviction around the ₦251,200 support level or tests lower.