By TAIYE OLAYEMI

Lagos, March 27, 2026 (NAN) The Nigerian stock market returned to negative territory on Friday, shedding N28 billion, or 0.02 per cent, as market capitalisation closed at N128.969 trillion, down from N128.997 trillion.The All-Share Index also slipped by 44.83 points, or 0.02 per cent, to 200,913.06, compared with 200,957.89 in the previous session.

Losses in key stocks, including Cadbury, Eterna, E-Tranzact, Abbey Mortgage Bank and Daar Communications, weighed on the market, alongside declines in 31 others.

As a result, the year-to-date (YTD) return eased to 29.11 per cent, while market breadth closed negative with 36 losers against 33 gainers.

Cadbury, Eterna, E-Tranzact and Abbey Mortgage Bank topped the losers’ table, each dropping 10 per cent to close at N63, N33.75, N20.70 and N9.90 per share, respectively. Daar Communications also declined by 9.50 per cent to N1.81 per share.

On the upside, Premier Paints and Zichis Agro Allied Industries led the gainers’ table, rising by 9.97 per cent each to close at N37.50 and N13.79 per share, respectively.

McNichols gained 9.93 per cent to N7.42, John Holt rose 9.86 per cent to N18.95, while Trans-Nationwide Express advanced 9.75 per cent to N2.59 per share.

Trading activity weakened, with total volume declining by 12.24 per cent to 595.15 million shares valued at N24.47 billion across 43,440 deals.

Wema Bank emerged as the most traded stock, accounting for 131.49 million shares worth N3.46 billion, representing 19.39 per cent of total volume and 10.43 per cent of total value traded. (NAN)