The Nigerian Exchange closed lower on 20 May 2026, shedding 2,571.7 points as bearish sentiment pushed the All-Share Index down to 249,063.7 at the end of trading.

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Down 1.02% from the previous session’s closing level of 251,635.4, the benchmark index dipped below the 250,000-point mark, as BUA Cement slipped 10%.

Market activity also weakened during the session, with trading volume falling from 703.9 million shares in the previous session to 600.2 million shares.

On the activity chart, Access Holdings recorded the highest trading volume with 55.9 million shares, while Zenith Bank emerged as the value leader with transactions worth N4.8 billion.

What the data is saying 

Trading sentiment turned negative, with the market’s year-to-date return easing to 60.05% from 61.71% recorded in the previous trading session.

  • On the gainers’ chart, Zichis and ABC Transport spearheaded the rally after both stocks appreciated by 9.99% each.
  • However, selling pressure lingered across parts of the market, with BUA Cement and Chemical Allied Products topping the losers’ table after shedding 10.00% and 9.99%, respectively.

In terms of trading activity, Access Holdings dominated the volume chart with 55.9 million shares traded, followed by Japaul Gold at 49.8 million units and Zenith Bank with 36.6 million units exchanged.

Sterling Financial Holdings recorded a turnover of 25.9 million shares, while Fidelity Bank followed with 21.7 million shares traded.

On the value chart, Zenith Bank led the market with trades worth N4.8 billion, outperforming Aradel Holdings, which recorded transaction value of N3.7 billion.

MTN Nigeria, Dangote Cement, and NGX Group also recorded notable value trades of N2.9 billion, N2.14 billion, and N2.12 billion, respectively.

Top 5 Gainers 

  • Zichis — up 9.99% to N32.04
  • ABC Transport — up 9.99% to N8.26
  • Japaul Gold — up 9.95% to N4.09
  • LivingTrust Mortgage Bank — up 9.92% to N4.21
  • FTN Cocoa — up 9.91% to N10.76

Top 5 Losers  

  • BUA Cement — down 10.00% to N414.00
  • CAP — down 9.99% to N210.35
  • eTranzact — down 7.03% to N17.20
  • International Breweries — down 5.38% to N12.30
  • DEAP Capital — down 4.92% to N5.80

SWOOTs performance 

Among stocks worth over one trillion naira (SWOOTs), performance was broadly negative as BUA Cement declined by 10.00%, International Breweries fell 5.38%, and Nigerian Breweries dipped 0.48%.

Lafarge Africa, however, defied the bearish trend with a 2.09% gain, while Wema Bank also closed higher after advancing by 0.61%.

FUGAZ performance 

Within the FUGAZ banking group, sentiment was mixed as First HoldCo declined by 4.04%, while Access Holdings also dipped by 0.39% during the trading session.

GTCO, however, advanced by 0.48%, while UBA and Zenith Bank recorded modest gains of 0.22% and 0.04%, respectively.

What you should know 

  • The Nigerian All-Share Index now holds a quarterly return of 23.74%, while its monthly performance stands at 2.80%.
  • Sectoral performance closed broadly negative, with the NGX Industrial Goods Index leading losses after declining by 3.84%, while the NGX Consumer Goods Index shed 0.45%.
  • The NGX Banking Index and NGX Oil & Gas Index also dipped by 0.31% and 0.10%, respectively, while the NGX Insurance Index bucked the trend with a 0.80% gain.