The Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) wrapped up the trading week on a resounding high note on Friday, October 23, 2026 as total market capitalisation rose above N160 trillion.
Data from the NGX shows that the aggregate market capitalisation of listed equities closed at N160.52 trillion, reflecting a single-day appreciation of N1.47 trillion (+0.92%) compared to Thursday’s closing figure of N159.05 trillion.
Concurrently, the benchmark All-Share Index (ASI) jumped by 2,265.33 basis points (+0.92%) on Friday to hit 247,222.27 points, the highest index level recorded throughout the five-day trading period.
Total market turnover across all equity boards saw 611,664,685 shares exchanged in 33,540 deals on Friday.
Leading Friday’s rally was Dangote Cement Plc, which hit its maximum daily appreciation limit of 10.00% (+N101.00) to close at N1,111.00 per share, alongside First Holdco Plc, which also surged 10.00% (+N13.10) to N144.10 per share.
Because of their massive market valuations, gains in these heavyweights directly lifted the NGX Industrial Index from 10,269.22 to 10,646.68 points and boosted the NGX Premium Board Index to 31,175.31 points, serving as the main catalyst behind the single-day N1.47 trillion market expansion.
Investor appetite remained strong for commercial banks, as gains in counters like Fidelity Bank Plc (+9.09%) lifted the NGX Banking Index to 2,515.47 points. Conversely, profit-taking in energy firm Aradel Holdings Plc (-6.33%) pulled the NGX Oil & Gas Index down from 6,191.20 to 6,035.77 points, demonstrating that the overall week-end rally was specifically propelled by capital concentration in top industrial and banking stocks rather than broad cross-sector momentum.
Sectoral performance on the NGX was overwhelmingly bullish across key industrial and institutional boards, spearheaded by a strong late-week surge in heavy-industry and banking equities.
While the NGX Consumer Goods Index managed a modest tick-up to 4,014.81 points and the NGX Insurance Index nudged up to 1,049.43 points on Friday, both sectors ended the week below their respective Monday opening figures of 4,030.50 points and 1,069.94 points. Meanwhile, fixed-income indicators remained stagnant, with the NGX Sovereign Bond Index holding flat at 661.50 points throughout the entire trading week.
