Economy
Stocks Gain N344bn as Year-to-Date Loss Shrinks to 16.03%
By Dipo Olowookere
The positive momentum witnessed at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) lately was maintained on Wednesday as bellwether stocks continued their impressive performances.
During the midweek trading session, which closed 3.02 percent higher, the All-Share Index (ASI) returned to the 22,000 region after rising by 659.99 points to 22,539.94 points from 21,879.95 points.
In the same vein, the market capitalisation improved by N344 billion to N11.747 trillion from N11.403 trillion. At the close of business, the year-to-date loss dropped to 16.03 percent.
Business Post reports that almost all the key sectors gained yesterday except for the insurance space, which lost 0.50 percent.
The banking index grew by 4.46 percent, the industrial goods counter appreciated by 3.02 percent, the consumer goods space rose by 2.51 percent, while the oil/gas sector improved by 1.12 percent.
Dangote Cement was the highest price gainer during the session as the cement stock added N12.10 to its share price to settle at N133.10 per unit.
Nigerian Breweries garnered N2.40 to sell at N26.80 per share, GTBank grew by N1.45 to trade at N21.90 per unit, Zenith Bank chalked up N1.40 to finish at N15.90 per share, while Dangote Sugar swallowed N1 to expand to N12.70 per unit.
On the flip side, Union Bank ended the midweek session as the worst performing stock after deflating by 30 kobo to N6.20 per unit.
Arbico lost 28 kobo to trade at N2.57 per share, Guinness Nigeria depreciated by 20 kobo to quote at N22.50 per share, Cutix declined by 12 kobo to N1.20 per unit, while Wema Bank decreased by 6 kobo to sell at 56 kobo per share.
The activity level remained on Wednesday following the 326.4 million stocks worth N3.3 billion traded in 5,166 deals compared with the 557.8 million shares valued at N2.6 billion exchanged in 5,310 deals on Tuesday.
This indicated that the value of transactions increased by 27.56 percent yesterday, the volume of the trades and the number of deals executed by investors decreased by 41.48 percent and 2.71 percent respectively.
FBN Holdings was the most active stock by volume on Wednesday. The lender traded 74.8 million units of its stocks worth N354.2 million.
Zenith Bank transacted 72.1 million shares worth N1.1 billion, GTBank exchanged 36.8 million equities valued at N794.0 million, UBA traded 22.9 million equities for N145.8 million, while FCMB sold 19.2 million shares for N32.3 million.
With the mood still relatively strong as reflected in the market breadth, 28 price gainers as against 11 price losers, the market is anticipated to close positive on Thursday, though a pocket of profit-taking is expected.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The pre-registration training and examination for capital market operators (CMOs) for the second quarter of 2026 has been postponed.
Business Post gathered that the new date for the exercise is now Monday, June 15, 2026.
This information was disclosed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) through a circular on Monday, June 8, 2026.
The Nigerian capital market regulator stated that this postponement has also resulted in the extension of the deadline for registration to Friday, June 12, 2026.
In the notice today, the SEC expressed its regret for the inconvenience this action may cause operators, who had prepared for the initial date of the training and examination.
“Further to the recent circular on Q2 2026 Pre-registration Training and Examination, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) hereby informs all eligible applicants for the Q2 2026 Pre-registration Training and Examination that the commencement date has been postponed to Monday, June 15, 2026.
“Registration on the designated portal has also been extended to Friday, June 12, 2026. All other conditions contained in the circular remain unchanged.
“The commission regrets any inconvenience this postponement may cause and appreciates the understanding of all applicants,” the disclosure noted.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
One of the leading healthcare firms in Nigeria, Fidson Healthcare Plc, has listed additional shares on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited.
The new stocks absorbed into the stock market were 600 million units, raising the total issued and fully paid-up shares of Fidson to 3,000,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each from 2,400,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each.
The fresh equities came from the company’s rights issue of 600,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each at N35.00 per share.
They were issued to existing investors on the basis of one new ordinary share for every existing four ordinary shares held as of the close of business on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
Confirming the development, the regulator in a notice said, “Trading licence holders are hereby notified that an additional 600,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each of Fidson Healthcare Plc were on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, listed on the daily official list of Nigerian Exchange Limited.
“The additional shares arose from the company’s rights issue of 600,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each at N35.00 per share on the basis of one new ordinary share for every existing four ordinary shares held as at the close of business on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
“With the listing of the additional 600,000,000 ordinary shares, the total issued and fully paid-up shares of Fidson Healthcare Plc have now increased from 2,400,000,000 to 3,000,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each.”
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
This news will surely excite local contractors with verified claims of N100 million or less, as the federal government has approved their payments.
This approval for the disbursement was given by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele.
This followed a verification and reconciliation exercise designed to ensure only validated claims qualify for payment.
The beneficiaries cover contractors across multiple ministries, departments and agencies. The release of the funds is expected to enable contractors to return to project sites, pay workers, settle suppliers and meet outstanding financial commitments.
In an announcement on Monday, the Federal Ministry of Finance also said this latest batch of payments would ease liquidity pressure on small businesses and accelerate economic activity nationwide.
It was noted that the payments for verified claims of N100 million below were strategically done to spread economic impact broadly rather than concentrate disbursements among a handful of large firms.
The payments form part of a broader push to clear inherited contractor obligations, with over N700 billion verified in recent months.
“For many beneficiaries, the release of funds represents more than a financial transaction. It provides the certainty needed to sustain operations, preserve jobs, complete ongoing projects, and contribute to economic recovery and growth,” the ministry said in a statement.
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