NGX Sheds N261.92 Billion as All-Share Index Slips 0.16%
By Aboki Forex —
The Nigerian Exchange All-Share Index fell 403.40 points, or 0.16%, to close at 250,808.27 points on Friday, October 2, 2026, down from 251,211.67 points in the previous session on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
Equity market capitalisation contracted by N261.92 billion, also 0.16%, to N162.84 trillion from N163.10 trillion. Trading stayed active despite the dip, with investors exchanging 557,125,283 shares in 53,370 deals.
Banking stocks drag the index
The NGX Banking Index was the main weight on the market, falling 0.97%, or 26.39 points, from 2,712.10 to 2,685.71. Losses in First Holdco (-6.16%), UBA (-0.33%) and Wema Bank (-0.48%) outweighed gains in Fidelity Bank (+8.55%) and GTCO (+0.61%). The broader decline was also pulled by First Holdco, NGX Group (-6.85%) and VFD Group (-6.90%).
Volume fell sharply. Total shares traded dropped 45.91% to 557.16 million from 1.03 billion, even as deals rose 20.21% to 53,370 from 44,398. Activity was driven by Access Holdings with 183.56 million shares, Critical Minerals Financing Corp with 38.52 million shares and Fidelity Bank with 27.75 million shares.
Insurance shines as breadth stays neutral
The NGX Insurance Index was the day's best performer, up 1.21%, or 13.20 points, from 1,087.10 to 1,100.30. AIICO Insurance gained 10.00%, AXA Mansard rose 3.64% and Consolidated Hallmark added 4.49%.
Market breadth was neutral, with 26 gainers against 26 losers.
Other sectoral indices were mixed. The NGX Corporate Governance Index fell 0.77%, or 58.45 points, to 7,559.54. The NGX Premium Index dropped 0.54% from 31,771.57 to 31,599.04. The Consumer Goods Index closed virtually flat, down 0.03% at 4,057.09, as steep losses in PZ Cussons (-9.91%) and Honeywell Flour Mill (-3.61%) offset gains in International Breweries (+4.71%) and Champion Breweries (+1.01%). The Industrial Goods Index was unchanged at 10,440.24, the Oil & Gas Index held at 6,246.75, and the Lotus Islamic Index edged up 0.07% to 23,452.13.
Top gainers and losers
AIICO Insurance led the gainers, up 10.00% to N4.18 from N3.80. Trans-Nationwide Express climbed 10.00% to N2.97 from N2.70. Livestock Feeds rose 9.88% to N8.90 from N8.10, LivingTrust Mortgage Bank gained 9.87% to N3.45 from N3.14, and ABC Transport added 9.63% to N7.40 from N6.75.
PZ Cussons Nigeria topped the losers, down 9.91% to N66.40 from N73.70. eTranzact International fell 9.84% to N11.00 from N12.20. Zichis Agro Allied Industries dropped 8.29% to N18.25 from N19.90, FTN Cocoa Processors lost 8.19% to N7.62 from N8.30, and Royal Exchange slipped 7.83% to N1.06 from N1.15.
The session shows a market still split between sectors. Money moved into insurance and selected mid caps while banking heavyweights gave up ground, leaving the benchmark index slightly weaker even as the number of deals increased.