The clearest signal on the Nigerian Exchange on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, did not come from a broad-based rally. It came from a sharp return of buying into large banking names, led by Zenith Bank Plc. The stock rose 6.9% to NGN 122.9 while drawing NGN 8.78 billion in turnover, in a session where the NGX all share index added only 0.28% to 1,616.8.
That gap between a modest index gain and heavy stock-specific rotation says a lot about the Nigerian stock exchange today. The market is still advancing, but it is doing so selectively. A relatively firmer naira, with USD/NGN at 1,342.86, down 1.03% on the day, and Brent crude at $95.12 a barrel, up 0.3% daily, created a more supportive macro backdrop for domestic equities that are sensitive to capital flows, funding conditions and currency risk.
Key figures
- NGX ASI: 1,616.8, up 0.28%
- Zenith Bank: +6.9% to NGN 122.9
- Zenith Bank turnover: NGN 8.78 billion
- Market breadth: 38 gainers / 37 losers / 71 unchanged
- USD/NGN: 1,342.86, down 1.03% on the day