Trading activity on the Nigerian Exchange Limited slowed sharply in January 2026, with total transactions falling to N862 billion, a 37.6 per cent decline from the N1.38 trillion recorded in December 2025.
According to recent Exchange portfolio statistics, the reduction affected both domestic and international investors, suggesting a slow start for the new trading year. Market observers claim the fall shows profit-taking and weaker positioning following a big rise late last year.
Though there is a month-on-month decrease, activity is still higher than it was at the same time last year. Total trades amounted to N607.1 billion in January 2025, representing a 42 per cent year-on-year rise.
In January, domestic investors still dominated the market, accounting for almost 87 per cent of all transactions. Local participation was valued at about N747.8 billion, while foreign investors contributed just under N114.1 billion, just over 13 per cent of total activity.
The News Chronicle understands that analysts are watching to see whether foreign involvement will grow in the next few months as macroeconomic stability improves and the corporate earnings season gathers pace.
For the present, the most recent statistics point to a cooling period rather than a turnaround of the general recovery trend observed over the last year.
