The Nigerian equities market closed the trading week ended May 22, 2026, on a weaker note, shedding 618.55 points to settle at 249,712.37 amid renewed profit-taking pressure.
This marks a 0.25% weekly decline from 250,330.92, ending the market’s seven-week winning streak as the benchmark index slipped below the key 250,000-point level.
Trading activity slowed significantly during the week, as investors exchanged 3.8 billion shares in 334,745 deals, compared to 7.7 billion shares recorded in the previous week.
Market breadth weakened during the week as 38 equities appreciated, down from 74 previously, while 55 declined versus 24 earlier, and 53 closed unchanged, reflecting increased selling pressure and cautious sentiment.
As trading activity contracted sharply over the period, with investors exchanging 3.8 billion shares across 334,745 deals — a dramatic step down from the 7.7 billion shares that changed hands the previous week. The near-halving of volume signals a cautious pivot among market participants reluctant to chase valuations at elevated index levels.