Nigeria’s retail stock investors transactions almost doubled in nine months to September. Transactions by this class of investors reach a recorded high of N2.61trillion in nine months, an increase by 53 percent from N1.7trillion as at same period in 2024.
“The rise in retail turnover demonstrates renewed investor confidence and the transformational impact of digital access, particularly platforms such as NGX Invest, in widening market participation.
“We believe this behaviour will continue as more digital platforms provide seamless access and as policy stability deepens. This reinforces the need for balanced, supportive policies that sustain this progress,” said Temi Popoola, GM/CEO, NGX Group.
NGX Invest is an electronic platform designed to facilitate public offers and rights issues, making it easier for investors to participate in these investment opportunities. It simplifies the investment process, ensures safe and secure transactions, and offers a wide range of investment opportunities.
The retail stock investors transactions peaked in July when they traded N516.5billion stocks, followed by N343.67billion in August, and N337.46 billion recorded in May.
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Summary of equities transactions in other months showed that in January, retail investors traded stocks worth N267.35billion, February (N214.51 billion), March (N197.12 billion), April (N181.31 trillion), June (N274.63 billion), and September (N278.57billion).
In the review nine months period, total equities transaction on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) almost tripled N8.538trillion as against N3.96trillion in the corresponding nine months period of 2024. Foreign equities transactions were N1.840trillion or 21.56 percent of the total transactions in the review nine months period while domestic transactions were N6.697trillion or 78.44 percent.
“NGX Group remains committed to working closely with fiscal and regulatory authorities, driving innovation, strengthening partnerships across the financial ecosystem, and advancing policy initiatives that deepen digital inclusion, broaden product access, and enable domestic investors to contribute meaningfully to sustainable economic growth,” Popoola further noted while responding to enquiry on the strong upward trend in retail investor activity.
The Nigerian capital market will officially transition to a T+2 settlement cycle for equities transactions from Friday, November 28 in a move designed to align with global best practices and enhance market efficiency. The transition from the current T+3 (trade date plus three days) settlement cycle is now at the implementation stage following months of preparation and stakeholder testing.
“The migration is expected to significantly enhance the Nigerian Capital Market by allowing investors quicker access to funds, thereby enhancing overall market liquidity and reducing counterparty risk exposure, thereby fostering a more stable and resilient market environment,” said the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
“With clearer tax guidance now in place, sentiment should remain steadier in the near term” Meristem research analysts said in their recent note. In the trading week to November 14, equities market returns year-to-date (YtD) stood at 42.93 percent.
