The Nigerian stock market kicked off the month of December on a strong bullish note, delivering its first significant gain and adding over a trillion naira to investor portfolios. Trading activities on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, saw a broad-based rally that pushed key market indicators firmly into positive territory.
Market Indices Reflect Robust Investor Confidence
The benchmark All-Share Index (ASI) appreciated significantly by 1.20%. It climbed to 144,928.36 points from the previous day's close of 143,210.33 points. This upward movement had a direct and substantial impact on market valuation.
Consequently, the total market capitalisation surged by N1.29 trillion, closing at an impressive N92.38 trillion. This impressive performance further strengthened the year-to-date return for investors to 40.81%, underscoring a resilient market despite broader economic headwinds.
Top Gainers and Losers in Tuesday's Trading Session
The market sentiment was decidedly positive, with 26 gainers outpacing 20 losers. The top performers were led by some of the market's heavyweights and notable mid-cap stocks.
Dangote Cement Plc emerged as the star performer, with its share price soaring by 9.99% to close at N588.00 from N534.60. Other major gainers included NCR Nigeria Plc, International Breweries Plc, and Livestock Feeds Plc.
On the flip side, Ikeja Hotel Plc led the decliners' table, shedding 9.92% of its value. It was followed by Legendary Investments Plc, LivingTrust Mortgage Bank Plc, and Wapic Insurance Plc among the top losers for the day.
High-Volume Trades and Market Liquidity
Trading activity was robust, with a total volume of 606.25 million units of shares exchanged. The value of these transactions stood at a substantial N39.69 billion, executed across 14,791 deals.
Access Holdings Plc dominated the volume chart, contributing a massive 51.17% of the total volume traded with over 310 million units. In terms of value, Seplat Energy Plc commanded the lead, accounting for 56.64% of the total turnover value for the session.
The top five trades by volume were:
- Access Holdings Plc: 310,247,795 units valued at N6.42 billion.
- Zenith Bank Plc: 40,334,187 units valued at N2.42 billion.
- Fidelity Bank Plc: 38,165,865 units valued at N725.33 million.
- FCMB Group Plc: 21,139,531 units valued at N216.97 million.
- Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc: 20,810,796 units valued at N1.80 billion.
Insider Activity: Elumelu Family Increases UBA Stake
In a related development highlighting insider confidence, a notable transaction was reported earlier. Tony Elumelu, the Chairman of United Bank for Africa Plc, and his wife, Awele Elumelu, purchased additional shares in the financial institution.
According to a corporate disclosure filed with the Nigerian Exchange Limited, the couple acquired a combined 23,196,236 units of UBA shares. The transactions, executed in two separate deals, were valued at approximately N480.26 million. Awele Elumelu's purchase involved 9,624,441 units at an average price of N20.71 per share.
This December rally marks a positive reversal for the market, injecting renewed optimism among investors as the year draws to a close. The significant gains in market capitalisation and the strong activity in blue-chip stocks suggest sustained interest from both local and institutional investors.
