By Onu Okorie

Trading on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) remained bearish on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, as investors continued to take profits on some heavyweight stocks.
Available market data showed the NGX All-Share Index was down 0.36 per cent to 249,767.91 points at 2:42 p.m., while market capitalisation stood at about N162.17 trillion. Market breadth remained negative, with 35 stocks declining against 20 gainers.
The decline came a day after the equities market shed 0.06 per cent, with the All-Share Index closing Monday at 250,667.86 points. Market capitalisation also fell by N91.16 billion to N162.75 trillion.
The selling pressure on Tuesday was reflected in several counters, with DEAP Capital Management and Trust, also known as Critical Minerals Financing Corporation, among the worst performers, declining 9.88 per cent to N3.65.
Tripple Gee & Company led the gainers, rising 9.77 per cent to N2.81, according to market data available during the session.
The market’s recent weakness followed a period of strong gains that had lifted Nigerian equities to elevated levels, encouraging investors to lock in profits on selected stocks.
Monday’s session had also recorded substantial trading activity, with 875.26 million shares valued at N40.88 billion exchanged in 53,887 deals. Access Holdings dominated volume with 440.65 million shares traded, while Aradel Holdings led transactions by value.
The financial services sector remained a major driver of trading activity, while investors continued to reposition across banking, consumer goods, insurance and industrial stocks.
Nestlé Nigeria was among the heavyweight stocks that came under pressure in Monday’s session, falling 5.17 per cent, while GTCO, UBA and Transcorp also recorded losses. In contrast, MTN Nigeria, Zenith Bank and Dangote Sugar posted gains.
The broader market sentiment has remained cautious following the recent profit-taking trend. Analysts at Cowry Assets Management said they expected the market to gradually recover as investor sentiment improves, although continued profit-taking and selective selling could constrain gains in the near term.
Meanwhile, investors are also weighing alternative opportunities in the fixed-income market. The Debt Management Office, through the NGX, has opened subscriptions for the October FGN Savings Bond, offering two-year and three-year instruments at annual interest rates of 13.071 per cent and 14.071 per cent respectively.
The NGX trading session runs from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., meaning the intraday figures available at 2:42 p.m. had not yet represented the official closing position for Tuesday’s session.