NGX This Week: Nigerian Equities Add N3.34 Trillion as All-Share Index Surges 2.27% Week-on-Week

The Nigerian stock market ended the trading week ended May 15, 2026, on a broadly positive note, with equity investors pocketing approximately N3.34 trillion in paper gains as the benchmark All-Share Index (ASI) posted a 2.27% week-on-week advance to close at 250,330.92 points. The benchmark index gained 5,555.09 points from the previous week’s 244,775.83 points. 

Market capitalization rose to N160.44 trillion, up from N157.10 trillion recorded the previous week, as buying pressure across industrial goods and banking more than offset end-of-week profit-taking.

The week’s performance reinforced the market’s impressive year-to-date trajectory, with the ASI now up 60.87% since the start of the year, a gain that has made the Nigerian equities market one of the best-performing in Africa in 2026.

Market Breath and Activity

The All-Share Index rose to a fresh all-time intraday high of 252,419.22 points on Tuesday, May 12, its highest level ever recorded during a trading session. The index closed the day at 252,411.67 points, a gain of 0.77%, as buyers seeking value in key sectors outweighed investors taking profits off the table.

However, on Friday, May 15, some relief was taken. The ASI dropped 1,912.19 points (-0.76%) on the final trading day to close at 250,330.92, with the market recording 47 gainers and 28 losers from 132 equities that participated in trading.

Trading activity expressed bullish momentum, with volume rising to 7.77 billion shares from 7.07 billion shares traded in the previous week

Market breadth remained firmly positive for the week, with 74 equities appreciating in price compared with 24 losers, while 48 stocks closed unchanged by the week end

Key Indices at a Glance

The NGX Premium Index ended the week up 4.39%, though it slipped 0.68% on Friday, bringing its year-to-date return to 81.28%. This is due to gains in UBA (+10%), Access Holdings (+9.11%), Dangote Cement (+8.46%), First Holdco (+3.24%), Zenith Bank (+2.38%), MTN Nigeria (+2.36%) and Lafarge Africa (+2.12%).

The NGX Top 30 Index gained 2.02% for the week, closing with a year-to-date return of 59.73%.

The NGX Main Board Index posted a more modest weekly gain of 0.92%, weighed down by a 0.84% decline on Friday. Its year-to-date return now stands at 51.42%.

Sectoral Performance

The NGX Industrial Goods Index led the week, rising by 4.66% over the week to emerge as the strongest sectoral performer. This is driven by gains in major cement manufacturers including Dangote Cement (+8.46%), Lafarge Africa (+2.12%) and BUA Cement (+1.66%). Mid-cap industrial firms also posted significant gains

The NGX Banking Index followed by 2.82% during the week, supported by sustained buying interest and robust fundamentals across the tier-one lenders. Ecobank (+10.68%), UBA (+10.00%), Access Holdings (+9.11%) and Fidelity Bank (+6.26%) drove the rally

The insurance sector posted a weekly gain of 2.74%, with the NGX Insurance Index advancing 2.42% on Friday alone to close the day as the best-performing sector index. The NGX Consumer Goods Index appreciated 1.65% during the week.

The NGX Oil and Gas Index declined by 1.19% for the week due to weakness across select energy stocks.

Market Highlight

ASI Weekly Close: 250,330.92 points
Month-on-month Change: 3.32 %
Year-to-Date Return: 60.87 %
Market Capitalization: N160.444 trillion

Top Gainers

• Berger Paints Plc: up 55.57%
• SCOA Plc: up 45.92%
• Daar Communications Plc: up 42.41%
• Fidson Healthcare Plc: up 32.52%
• Learn Africa Plc: up 32.32%
• Mecure Industries Plc: up 30.72%
• Chams Holdings Company Plc: up 29.03%

Top Losers

• Zichis Agro Allied Industries Plc: down 11.78%
• The Initiates Plc: down 10.03%
• NPF Microfinance Bank Plc: down 10.00%
• NCR (Nigeria) Plc: down 10.00%
• Custodian Investment Plc: down 9.52%
• Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc: down 7.91%
• Secure Electronic Technology Plc: down 7.45%
• Prestige Assurance Plc: down 6.25%

With the ASI now 60.87% in the green year-to-date and market capitalization sitting at N160.44 trillion, the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) continues to offer investors compelling returns in an environment of improving macroeconomic fundamentals. However, the Friday pullback is a reminder that markets rarely move in a straight line and that short-term profit-taking is a natural part of any sustained rally.