Pension Fund Inflows Lift Nigerian Stocks by N970bn as Bullish Momentum Continues
Story:: written by Springnewsng February 11,2026
Nigeria’s equities market sustained its upward trend on Wednesday, gaining about N970 billion in market value as strong inflows from pension funds boosted buying activities on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX).
The benchmark All-Share Index (ASI) advanced by 0.78 per cent, supported by an expanding pension asset base estimated at over N27.45 trillion. Heavyweights such as Nestle Nigeria Plc, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc and Transcorp Hotels Plc led the rally, with 49 stocks closing higher against 32 decliners, reflecting renewed investor optimism.
According to analysts at Vetiva, movements in the Pension Index are increasingly becoming a reliable signal of where long-term institutional capital is being deployed, especially as pension managers reposition portfolios for better real returns.
With inflation eroding fixed-income yields, Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) have stepped up allocations to equities and other variable-income assets. Stocks like Nestle have benefited from this shift, while Julius Berger’s strong 2025 revenue performance has reinforced confidence in a recovery within the construction sector, attracting fresh institutional demand.
The market’s recent surge has pushed the ASI beyond the historic 170,000-point mark, placing the NGX among the world’s top-performing exchanges this year. On Wednesday, total market capitalisation rose to N114.377 trillion, while the ASI climbed to 178,184.54 points, up from N113.496 trillion and 176,809.43 points in the previous session.
The Pension Index also moved higher, closing at 8,465.55 points compared with 8,351.50 points a day earlier, lifting year-to-date returns to 14.50 per cent.
Recent adjustments by the National Pension Commission (PenCom) to equity investment limits for several Retirement Savings Account (RSA) funds have added fresh momentum to the market. The policy change has encouraged PFAs to rebalance portfolios, with renewed interest in blue-chip stocks such as Transcorp Hotels, MTN Nigeria and GTCO.
Nestle Nigeria’s share price jumped 10 per cent from N2,200 to N2,420, while Julius Berger gained 8.19 per cent to close at N249.70. Transcorp Hotels rose by 9.40 per cent to N190.90, MTN Nigeria edged up to N650, and GTCO advanced to N106.
Market watchers note that the rally is becoming more selective and earnings-driven, with pension funds evolving from passive investors into major drivers of price action. Analysts at CardinalStone Research believe the revised PenCom limits will help PFAs optimise positions in fundamentally strong stocks, especially as investors position ahead of full-year 2025 earnings and dividend announcements.
