The NGXASI ended the day lower, slipping by 21bps to close at 105,995.31 points as declines in DANGSUGAR (-7.76%), UNILEVER (-5.75%), STANBIC (-1.67%), OANDO (-1.89%), JAIZ (-9.72%), ACCESSCORP (-1.06%), and ZENITHBANK (-0.42%) weighed on sentiment. GEREGU (-0.74%) and NGXGROUP (-6.09%) also dragged the index lower after being marked down for dividends of N8.50 and N2.00, respectively. On the flip side, modest gains in GTCO (+0.83%) and FCMB (+1.55%), along with a few penny stocks, provided some support.
Market turnover stood at N11.0 billion ($7.2 million), with significant block trades in CHAMPION BREWERIES, MTNN, CUSTODIAN, and GTCO. The index’s year-to-date return now sits at 2.98%. With a persistent losing streak throughout March, the market heads into the coming week searching for renewed momentum.