Trading activity on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) expanded sharply in the week ended August 14, 2026, with equity turnover volume rising by more than 126 per cent compared with the previous week, even as the broader market closed lower.
According to the NGX weekly market report, investors traded 12.153 billion shares worth ₦176.058 billion in 224,146 deals during the week. This represented a substantial increase from the 5.359 billion shares valued at ₦139.053 billion in 261,869 deals recorded in the preceding week.
The increase in volume was particularly striking. The number of shares traded rose by approximately 126.8 per cent, meaning the weekly volume was more than twice the previous week’s figure. Turnover value also increased by approximately 26.6 per cent, while the number of deals declined by about 14.4 per cent.
Financial Stocks Dominate Activity
The Financial Services Industry remained the major driver of trading activity, accounting for 11.212 billion shares worth ₦88.991 billion in 102,246 deals during the week.
The sector contributed 92.25 per cent of total equity turnover volume and 50.55 per cent of total equity turnover value, underscoring its dominant position in market activity during the period.
The ICT Industry ranked second, recording 246.127 million shares valued at ₦51.605 billion in 27,169 deals, while the Services Industry occupied third place with 198.195 million shares worth ₦1.995 billion in 13,747 deals.
Three Stocks Account for Most of the Volume
Trading was heavily concentrated in a small number of equities.
The top three equities by volume — Fortis Global Insurance Plc, Cornerstone Insurance Plc and Consolidated Hallmark Holdings Plc — accounted for 9.488 billion shares valued at ₦36.219 billion in 1,781 deals.
Together, the three stocks represented 78.07 per cent of total equity turnover volume and 20.57 per cent of turnover value for the week.
This concentration helps explain the sharp increase in overall market volume, with the three equities alone accounting for more than three-quarters of all shares traded during the week.