Stock Market Recovered Slightly in April Amid Fragile Investor Sentiment
| The Nigerian stock market (NGX) weekly market report for the final week of April 2025 (Monday–Friday) closed with a marginal improvement, as the NGX All-Share Index (ASI) rose by 0.27% to 106,042.57 points, while market capitalisation increased by 0.28% to ₦66.65 trillion. This modest uptick signals a cautious return by investors following a persistent decline since March, largely triggered by profit-taking and macroeconomic uncertainties. However, beneath the headline gains, sectoral performance remained broadly negative. Major indices such as NGX Banking (-0.38%), Insurance (-2.89%), AFR Bank Value (-0.04%), MERI Value (-2.08%), Oil & Gas (-2.90%), Lotus II (-0.01%), Sovereign Bond (-0.19%), and Commodity (-1.12%) all recorded losses. These declines reflect continued investor concerns over inflationary pressures, restrictive monetary policies, and weak earnings expectations across key sectors. The marginal recovery in the ASI was supported by selective interest in fundamentally strong stocks; yet, persistent underperformance across core segments highlights the fragility of overall market sentiment. To build long-term resilience, policymakers and capital market stakeholders must prioritise restoring investor confidence through consistent macroeconomic policies, transparent regulations, and targeted, market-friendly reforms. Curbing inflation, stabilising the naira, and enhancing sectoral competitiveness are critical to sustaining capital inflows and driving a more inclusive market rebound. |
