The Nigerian All-Share Index concluded trading on April 8, 2026, with a gain of 0.28%, reaching 202,585.5 points. This increase represents a 562.4-point rise from the opening level of 202,023.1. The total market capitalization stood at N130.4 trillion by the close of trading.
Daily trading volume surpassed one billion shares, with N40.5 billion worth of trades executed across 52,723 deals. Zenith Bank and Access Holdings were prominent, each accounting for over N6 billion in transactions.
Access Holdings was the most traded stock by volume, with 232.9 million shares exchanged. Fidelity Bank followed with 113 million shares, and Wema Bank recorded 103.2 million shares traded. Zenith Bank saw 60.6 million shares traded, while Chams had 47.5 million shares exchanged.
In terms of market value, Zenith Bank led with N6.4 billion in trades. Access Holdings followed with N6.06 billion, and GTCO recorded N5.6 billion. Seplat transacted N3.3 billion, and MTN Nigeria completed the top trades with N2.7 billion.
The bullish sentiment in the Nigerian market was evident, with the year-to-date return standing at a strong 30.19% as of April 8, 2026. On the gainers' table, Universal Insurance and Omatek led with price increases of 10.00% and 9.78%, respectively. Conversely, UPDC REIT and Fortis Global experienced declines of 10.00% and 9.92%, respectively.
FTSE Russell Reinstates Frontier Market Status
In a significant development for Nigeria's capital markets, FTSE Russell has restored the country to Frontier Market status. This reclassification, moving Nigeria from “Unclassified” back to “Frontier Market,” is set to take effect from September 2026.
The decision was approved by the FTSE Russell Index Governance Board, following recommendations from its Equity Country Classification Advisory Committee and Policy Advisory Board. The outcome was announced as part of the March 2026 interim review.
This reinstatement reflects sustained improvements in Nigeria’s market infrastructure, accessibility, and overall investability. Enhancements to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) platform, including strengthened trading systems, improved settlement processes, and increased transparency, have contributed to a more efficient and accessible market environment.
According to the FTSE Quality of Markets assessment, Nigeria achieved “Pass” ratings in key criteria such as regulatory oversight, capital repatriation, brokerage competitiveness, tax framework, and settlement efficiency, operating on a T+2 settlement cycle. These improvements align market operations with global standards.
The review also identified areas for further development, including foreign exchange market depth, transaction cost efficiency, derivatives market availability, and certain custody and clearing mechanisms. FTSE Russell commended Nigerian market authorities for their continued engagement.
Temi Popoola, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc, commented that this milestone reflects the strength of collaboration across Nigeria’s capital market ecosystem and the deliberate efforts to strengthen the underlying market infrastructure.
