The Nigerian stock market closed the month of April 2026 on a strong and positive note, showing impressive growth across major sectors. Increased buying activity, especially in large and stable companies, pushed the market higher and rewarded investors with significant gains.
During the month, investors made a combined profit of about N26.487 trillion, reflecting renewed confidence in the market. This surge was mainly driven by institutional investors focusing on high-value and fundamentally solid stocks, helping to maintain a steady upward trend.
One of the key indicators of market performance, the total market capitalisation, rose sharply. It increased from N129.209 trillion in March to N155.696 trillion by the end of April. This marks the highest level recorded so far this year, highlighting the growing value of listed companies.
In the same vein, the All-Share Index (ASI), which tracks overall market performance, climbed by 20.13%. It moved from 201,287.78 points in March to 241,815.32 points in April. This rise suggests that investors have strong confidence in the ability of companies to maintain earnings and adjust prices despite inflation challenges.
Looking at weekly activity, trading also improved significantly. A total of 4.842 billion shares worth N287.756 billion were traded in 332,453 deals during the week. This is higher than the previous week’s figures of 3.805 billion shares valued at N213.955 billion in 297,202 deals, showing increased market participation.
Breaking down the activity by sector, the Financial Services industry dominated trading. It recorded 3.755 billion shares worth N124.398 billion across 146,938 deals. This accounted for more than three-quarters of the total trading volume and a large portion of the total value.
The Consumer Goods sector followed, with 177.009 million shares traded at a value of N30.853 billion in 36,609 deals. The Services sector came third, recording 176.809 million shares worth N4.387 billion in 15,310 deals.
Among individual companies, Access Holdings Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc, and Wema Bank Plc led the market in terms of trading volume. Together, they accounted for over 2 billion shares worth N60.036 billion in nearly 40,000 deals, showing strong investor interest in banking stocks.
On the global front, crude oil prices continued to rise, with Brent crude reaching $114.16 per barrel. This increase is largely due to ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, especially disruptions in oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
Experts have pointed out that stalled negotiations between the United States and Iran have raised concerns about oil supply. In addition, the decision of the United Arab Emirates to exit OPEC+ has added more uncertainty to the market.
Despite these challenges, limited supply remains the key factor pushing oil prices higher. For Nigeria, this is good news, as higher oil prices can boost government revenue and strengthen the economy. It also improves investor confidence, particularly in companies linked to the energy sector.
