The Nigerian equities market closed on a negative note today, with bearish momentum dominating trades across major sectors. Investors reacted cautiously to broad sell‑offs, pushing the NGX All‑Share Index (ASI) down by ‑0.39% to 243,017.38 points.

📊 Market Breadth: More Losers Than Gainers

Market breadth remained weak, reflecting a risk‑off mood among investors.

• 41 stocks declined
• 16 stocks advanced

🟢 Top Gainers

These counters showed resilience despite the broader market downturn:

• INTENEGINS (+10.00%)
• JOHNHOLT (+9.89%)
• TRANSEXPR (+9.75%)
• SUNUASSUR (+8.48%)
• NEM (+6.25%)

🔻 Top Losers

Sell pressure was most pronounced in these names:

• UNILEVER (‑9.97%)
• CHELLARAM (‑9.66%)
• NIDF (‑9.55%)
• DAARCOMM (‑9.25%)
• CORNERST (‑9.09%)

📉 Activity Levels: Volume Drops Sharply

Trading activity slowed significantly:

• Total volume: 588.13 million units (‑59.58%)
• Total value: ₦21.46 billion

🏆 Most Actively Traded Stock

VFDGROUP led the session with:

• 151.38 million units traded
• ₦1.87 billion in value

This reflects sustained interest in the counter despite overall market softness.

🧭 Market Sentiment: Broad Sector Weakness

The local bourse recorded negative performance due to losses across banking, industrials, insurance, and consumer goods. The bearish tone suggests investors are repositioning ahead of macroeconomic catalysts and corporate earnings updates.

🎯 Stock Picks for the Next Trading Session

A balanced outlook for active traders and portfolio managers:

✅ BUY

• ZENITH
• CONOIL
• TIP
• DANGCEM
• HBMNG

⚖️ HOLD

• DANGSUGAR
• MECURE
• STERLING
• CUTIXS

❌ SELL

• TRANSHOT
• GEREGU

📝 Final Thoughts

Today’s market performance underscores the importance of selective positioning and disciplined risk management. While bearish sentiment dominated, pockets of strength remain—especially among insurance and mid‑cap industrial names.