The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) recorded a clear strategic advance, closing higher with a 441.3-point gain to reach 178,625.6 on February 12, 2026. This rise represents a 0.25 percent increase from the prior session’s close and reflects sustained demand in key sectors of the market amid continued positive price action on the bourse.
Investor interest focused on major stocks, with Seplat hitting the daily 10 percent price limit** and emerging as the leading advancer among listed equities. This performance underscores a **firm buy-side preference in heavyweight names that drove the benchmark index higher for the ninth straight session.
“Seplat, RT Briscoe, and Deap Capital each advanced by the maximum daily limit of 10%.” The strong push in these stocks underlines concentrated investor confidence in selective names capable of delivering near-term returns.
Despite the positive shift in index levels, trading volume declined relative to the previous session, falling from 939 million shares to about 698.3 million shares traded. The reduced participation did not blunt the strength of price moves, but it suggests that breadth was narrower than the headline index gain might imply.
Market capitalisation also expanded, edging higher to approximately N114.6 trillion, supported by solid activity in both volume and value terms. Deals totalled 50,886 for the session, with investors actively positioning in select large- and mid-cap stocks.
In the banking segment, GTCO and Zenith Bank led value traded charts, reflecting robust institutional engagement in these counters. This aligns with broader market dynamics where financials continue to attract significant flows due to their liquidity and fundamental profiles.
Conversely, there were stocks that registered notable declines. “On the flip side, profit-taking pressure weighed on Nigerian Aviation Handling Company and Abbey Mortgage Bank, which declined by 9.98% and 9.68%, respectively.” These moves highlight active rotation and selective profit realisation among market participants.
Large-cap and SWOOT (above N1 trillion) stocks demonstrated mixed results. While Seplat’s rally was a standout, other heavyweight names showed restrained gains or modest progress. For example, MTN advanced marginally, whereas Dangote Cement, Lafarge, and Nigerian Breweries moved lower.
Looking at broader market leadership, banking and mid-cap names offered divergent activity levels. Access Holdings led by volume with 52.05 million shares traded, followed by noteworthy participation in Zenith Bank, Tantalizer, GTCO, and Deap Capital. This suggests investors are selectively concentrating on names with compelling liquidity and price momentum.
From a performance ranking perspective, the session’s top gainers included Seplat, RT Briscoe, and DeapCap, all achieving the daily price limit. At the same time, the laggard list was topped by the aviation handler and a mortgage bank, followed by several other stocks that saw price pressure.
Overall, the bullish trend on the NGX remains intact with persistent gains in the All-Share Index supported by targeted buying in select large-cap stocks. Continued strength among key names may contribute to further upside, even as investors monitor participation levels and sector rotations for broader confirmation.
