Market Update For February 13, 2026
The Nigerian Exchange wrapped up the trading week with a decisive bullish close, extending its upward trajectory on the back of sustained accumulation in fundamentally sound and large-cap counters. Renewed demand across consumer goods, banking, industrial and oil & gas stocks underpinned the rally, as investors continued to align portfolios with earnings resilience and dividend expectations.
The tone of the market reflected confidence-driven positioning rather than speculative spikes. Institutional players were visibly active in bellwether names, particularly tier-one banks and defensive consumer stocks, while selective interest in energy counters added depth to the advance. The rotation into value and growth names suggests that liquidity remains supportive, even as volatility in the global macro environment persists.
Sector performance was largely positive, with consumer goods and financial services leading the charge. Heavyweights in these segments attracted strong bids throughout the session, reinforcing the broader market structure. The industrial goods space also benefited from renewed positioning, while oil & gas stocks found support from relatively stable crude prices in the international market.
On the global front, oil prices steadied following earlier weakness linked to inflation data and expectations of potential production increases by OPEC+. Brent crude traded around the $67 per barrel region, while West Texas Intermediate hovered near $62 per barrel. Although both benchmarks remain on track for mild weekly losses, the relative stability provided support for energy-linked equities on the domestic exchange. The moderation in oil volatility helped sustain investor appetite for upstream and integrated oil counters, contributing to the market’s positive close.
Market participation showed a mixed pattern. While traded volume declined compared to the previous session, turnover value remained robust, indicating concentration in high-value transactions. This dynamic suggests strategic accumulation rather than broad speculative trading. Liquidity was notably strong in banking and agro-industrial stocks, reflecting continued institutional preference for fundamentally backed counters.
From a technical standpoint, the market remains firmly in bullish territory. The All-Share Index continues to sustain its breakout above the 180,000 psychological level, confirming strength in the prevailing uptrend. The pattern of higher highs and higher lows remains intact, supported by improving money flow and positive breadth. However, short-term momentum indicators are approaching overbought levels, which could open the door for intermittent profit-taking in the coming sessions. Any pullback toward immediate support zones may present fresh entry opportunities, provided overall sentiment remains constructive.
At the close of trading, the benchmark All-Share Index (ASI) advanced by 2.06%, gaining 3,687.45 points to settle at 182,313.08 points. Market capitalisation expanded in tandem with the rally, while year-to-date return strengthened further to 17.16%, reflecting sustained positive sentiment. Market breadth remained firmly positive at 53 gainers against 33 losers, underscoring broad-based participation. Total value traded stood at ₦52.72 billion across 50,068 deals. Major market movers included Nestlé Nigeria Plc (+10.00%), Okomu Oil Palm Plc (+9.99%), Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc (+8.75%), MTN Nigeria Communications Plc (+8.56%), Vitafoam Nigeria Plc (+7.75%), Unilever Nigeria Plc (+6.88%), Fidson Healthcare Plc (+6.85%), Presco Plc (+6.74%), NASCON Allied Industries Plc (+5.52%), Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (+4.67%), Fidelity Bank Plc (+4.50%), NAHCO Plc (+4.41%), Zenith Bank Plc (+4.36%), Seplat Energy Plc (+3.61%), Eterna Plc (+3.33%), Sterling Financial Holdings Company Plc (+3.25%), Lafarge Africa Plc (+3.01%), Access Holdings Plc (+2.69%), United Bank for Africa Plc (+1.68%), Aradel Holdings Plc (+0.61%), FCMB Group Plc (+0.45%) and First Holdco Plc (+0.31%), while CORNERST led the gainers’ chart and SKYAVN topped the decliners’ table.
