By Boluwatife Oshadiya | May 19, 2026
Key Points
- Nigerian Exchange shed N81 billion in market value amid renewed profit-taking
- NGX All-Share Index declined 0.05% to close at 250,204.83 points
- Banking and Oil & Gas sectors posted gains despite broader market weakness
Main Story
Investors on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) lost approximately N81 billion on Monday as profit-taking activities in major mid-cap stocks dragged the local bourse lower.
The NGX All-Share Index declined by 126.09 basis points, representing a 0.05% drop to close at 250,204.83 points, while market capitalisation fell by N80.82 billion to settle at N160.36 trillion.
Market sentiment weakened following selloffs in stocks including AFRIPRUD, TIP, UACN, BERGER, and Nigerian Breweries, which offset gains recorded in selected banking and energy counters.
Trading activity also declined during the session, with total volume traded falling by 26.16%, while the value of transactions dropped by 16.36%.
A total of 800.46 million shares valued at N37.05 billion were exchanged in 87,096 deals.
UBA emerged as the most actively traded stock by volume, accounting for 8.16% of total transactions, followed by FIDELITYBK, ACCESSCORP, DAARCOMM, and NSLTECH.
By value, ARADEL led the market, contributing 16.63% of total traded value during the session.
On the gainers’ chart, OANDO and UPL appreciated by 10% each, while DEAPCAP, MAYBAKER, TRANSEXPR, ABCTRANS, and NEIMETH also posted strong gains.
However, market breadth closed negative as 35 stocks recorded losses against 33 gainers. NCR and ZICHIS led the losers’ table after both declined by 9.99%, followed by IMG, SOVRENINS, DAARCOMM, CWG, and RTBRISCOE.
Sectoral performance was mixed. Oil & Gas, Banking, and Commodity indices closed higher, while Consumer Goods, Insurance, and Industrial sectors recorded losses.
“The market is experiencing mild profit-taking after recent rallies in several mid-cap counters,” analysts at Lagos-based brokerage firms noted after trading activities closed.
What’s Being Said
“Investors are becoming increasingly selective as concerns around valuation and macroeconomic pressures continue to influence trading decisions,” market analysts said.
“Banking stocks continue to attract interest due to earnings expectations and recapitalisation prospects, even as broader market sentiment remains cautious,” a Lagos-based equities trader said.
What’s Next
- Investors are expected to monitor upcoming corporate earnings releases and dividend announcements
- Analysts anticipate continued sector rotation as traders rebalance portfolios toward fundamentally strong stocks
- Market attention is also likely to remain on interest rate expectations and broader macroeconomic developments
Bottom Line
The Bottom Line: The NGX remains vulnerable to intermittent profit-taking despite strong liquidity in selected sectors. Investor sentiment is becoming increasingly cautious as market participants weigh corporate fundamentals against persistent macroeconomic uncertainty.
 lost approximately N81 billion on Monday as profit-taking activities in major mid-cap stocks ...){kind=link}