Shareholders gain N26.5trn in April as total market value surges to N155.7trn

The Nigerian stock market concluded April 2026 on a strong note, driven by robust buying activity across key sectors, which propelled the Nigerian Exchange Limited's performance indicators and yielded N26.487 trillion in gains for investors during the month.

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This uptrend was fueled by renewed interest from institutions in high-cap and fundamentally sound stocks, reinforcing the market's resilient growth trajectory.

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Market capitalisation, representing the total value of shares listed on the Exchange, reached a record high of N155.696 trillion at the close of trading, up from N129.209 trillion in March 2026.

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The NGX All-Share Index rose by 20.13% in April to 241,815.32 points, compared to 201,287.78 points in March, indicating confidence in companies' earnings and pricing power amidst inflation.

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A total turnover of 4.842 billion shares worth N287.756 billion in 332,453 deals was traded this week, compared to 3.805 billion shares valued at N213.955 billion exchanged last week in 297,202 deals.

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The Financial Services Industry led the activity chart, with 3.755 billion shares valued at N124.398 billion traded in 146,938 deals, accounting for 77.56% and 43.23% of the total equity turnover volume and value.

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The Consumer Goods Industry followed, with 177.009 million shares worth N30.853 billion in 36,609 deals, while the Services Industry ranked third, with a turnover of 176.809 million shares valued at N4.387 billion in 15,310 deals.

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Trading in the top three equities, Access Holdings Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc, and Wema Bank Plc, accounted for 2.026 billion shares worth N60.036 billion in 39,925 deals.

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On the global scene, Brent crude oil prices continued their rally, rising to $114.16 per barrel, driven by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, particularly the disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

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Analysts at InvestData Consulting Limited noted that the surge is driven by the deadlock in negotiations between the United States and Iran, as well as the UAE's exit from OPEC+, introducing uncertainty into the market.

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According to the analysts, despite these factors, supply constraints remain the dominant theme, supporting elevated oil prices, and sustained high oil prices are a positive macro driver for Nigeria, boosting revenue outlook and supporting investor sentiment in energy-linked equities.