Zenith Bank, GTCO Among Top Traders as NGX Market Cap Rises By N696bn

March 18, 2026
The equity market closed in positive territory for the second time this week as stocks rose by 0.04%. Investors traded N15.07bn worth of shares.

The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) market capitalisation increased to N130.02 trillion on Tuesday, March 17, from the N129.32 trillion recorded on Monday, March 16.

This represents a N696.20 billion growth in the value of the NGX, driven by a 0.53 percent appreciation in the all-share index (ASI).

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The all-share index increased by 1,084.52 basis points, from 201,474.89 ASI to 202,559.41 ASI.

Traders increased their trading activities to 1.75 billion shares, valued at N88.09 billion, in 62,654 deals, exceeding the 948.21 million shares exchanged in 72,735 deals, valued at N49.17 billion, on Monday.

Top five gainers

  • BUA Cement’s share price increased by N29.70 to rise from N297 to N326.70 kobo per share.
  • Premier Paints’ share value grew by N2.10 kobo, from N21.30 kobo to N23.40 kobo per share.
  • Zenith Bank ended trading at N111.15 kobo per share, from N103 per share – indicating an increase of N8.15 kobo.
  • NAHCO’s share appreciated by N11.70 kobo to end trading at N175.60 kobo, having opened with N163.90 kobo.
  • VFD Group’s share value was up by N0.751 kobo, after closing at N12 from N11.25 kobo per share.

Top five losers

  • FGSUK2032S5’s share price depreciated by N11.95 kobo, dwindling from N102 to N90.05 per share.
  • Presco recorded a N208.30 kobo decline in its share price to end trading at N1,875.60 kobo after opening with N2,083.90 kobo per share.
  • Caverton recorded a N0.60 kobo decline in its share price to end trading at N6.30 kobo after opening with N6.90 kobo per share.
  • NSLTECH lost N0.10 kobo in its share price after trading hours, to sell at N1.20 kobo from N1.30 kobo per share.
  • Guinea Insurance reported a decline of 6.43 percent from the previous share price of N1.40 kobo to end trading at N1.31 kobo per share.

Top five trading equities

  • FCMB reported that 516.22 million shares valued at N6.55 billion were traded on its floor.
  • Wema Bank recorded 213.38 million shares valued at N5.56 billion.
  • Zenith Bank saw investors trade 163.10 million of its shares valued at N18.10 billion.
  • Access Holding recorded 123.84 million shares exchanged on its floor, worth N3.16 billion.
  • GTCO reported that traders exchanged 100.01 million shares valued at N12.35 billion.

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Prime Business Africa is a business, economy and policy news platform founded in 2021 by veteran journalist and media scholar, Dr Marcel Mbamalu, after he left The Guardian as Editor.

Dr Mbamalu, who serves as Founder and Publisher, set up Prime Business Africa to deliver sharp, data-driven reporting on Nigeria’s markets, trade, investment, and governance trends for decision-makers, entrepreneurs, and policy leaders.

He also writes The Bottom Line, a backpage column for Punch Newspaper every Thursday.

Under his leadership, Prime Business Africa combines deep newsroom experience with a focus on accountability journalism, aiming to bridge information gaps between Africa’s private sector and the global economy.

Prime Business Africa

Prime Business Africa is a business, economy and policy news platform founded in 2021 by veteran journalist and media scholar, Dr Marcel Mbamalu, after he left The Guardian as Editor.

Dr Mbamalu, who serves as Founder and Publisher, set up Prime Business Africa to deliver sharp, data-driven reporting on Nigeria’s markets, trade, investment, and governance trends for decision-makers, entrepreneurs, and policy leaders.

He also writes The Bottom Line, a backpage column for Punch Newspaper every Thursday.

Under his leadership, Prime Business Africa combines deep newsroom experience with a focus on accountability journalism, aiming to bridge information gaps between Africa’s private sector and the global economy.

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