Last updated on August 26th, 2022 at 03:13 pm
Formerly known as the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) is a place where stock, equities and securities of companies that have been listed are traded by certified stockbrokers.
As such, the Nigerian Exchange trading hours are dedicated time when securities are traded (sold and bought) within and outside Nigeria by investors irrespective of nationalities
Brief History
The NSE came into being in 1961 in Nigeria’s commercial city of Lagos. Today, it has grown to be one of the most efficient stock exchanges in Africa with 157 listed companies on its main board at the time of this report.
It also has some companies on the Alternative Securities Market (ASeM), Fixed Income market, FGN bonds, state bonds and corporate bonds. Ronchess Global Resources Plc is the latest company to be listed by the NGX on December 17, 2021.
With its re-branding and deployment of technology in recent times, the NGX can compete with other global stock exchanges.
NGX Gone Digital
In the 1970s and 80s, investors had to wait till the next day for reports in national dailies to read analysis of gainers and losers which they use as a guide to take an investment decision.
Although the NSE has been operating an Automated Trading System (ATS) since April 27, 1999, this wasn’t meant for security investors until its recent launch of Primary Offer Application which allows Nigerians and anyone around the world to have access and buy stocks.
Today, right on your smartphone, you can gain insight into market prices including an All-Share Index (ASI), as sector indices are published every minute during trading hours.
Anyone can access data on the NGX online platform to monitor trading activities and know which direction to take.
Open Market Policy
Until the open market policy was adopted by the Nigerian government to allow foreign investors into the market, there was a time the restrictions limited inflow into the NGX.
But now, foreign investment through their brokers can flow into the Nigerian Exchange, they can list as dealers while opening the equities to foreign nationals.
One such policy is the reconstituted Investors’ Protection Fund 2012 that allows compensation for investors who suffer pecuniary loss arising from the revocation or cancellation of the registration of a dealing member.
NGX is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). It is also a member of the World Federation of Exchanges (FIBV) and other global stock organisations including the African Stock Exchanges Association (ASEA).
The NSE joined the Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative (SSE) on October 31, 2013.
NGX Trading Hours
On every business working day, trading on the NGX begins from 9:30 a.m. and closes at 14:30, Monday to Friday.
| Days of the week | Opening | Closing |
| Monday | 09:30 | 14:30 |
| Tuesday | 09:30 | 14:30 |
| Wednesday | 09:30 | 14:30 |
| Thursday | 09:30 | 14:30 |
| Friday | 09:30 | 14:30 |
Exceptions
There are exceptions when tradings are put on hold, it’s called trading holidays. This when there are no tradings of equities
The major reason for this is when the government declare days to be observed as public holidays. This is common during festive periods like Muslims’ Eid Fitr, Democracy Day, Christmas holiday etc.
Below are days when trading of equities are put on hold at the Nigerian Exchange:
| Observed Date | Public Holiday |
| Saturday, January 1, 2022 | New Year |
| Friday, April 15, 2022 | Good Friday |
| Monday, April 18, 2022 | Easter Monday |
| Monday, May 2, 2022 | Workers’ Day |
| Tuesday, May 3, 2022 | Eidul-Fitr |
| Wednesday, May 4, 2022 | Eidul-Fitr |
| Monday, June 13, 2022 | Democracy Day |
| Monday, July 11, 2022 | Eid el-Kabir |
| Tuesday, July 12, 2022 | Eid el-Kabir |
| Monday, October 3, 2022 | Independence Day |
| Monday, December 26, 2022 | Christmas Day |
| Tuesday, December 27, 2022 | Boxing Day |
Note: The above public holidays are subject to change by the Federal Government
Reference:
- NGX (2021). “Trading Holidays”. ngxgroup.com. Retrieved December 20, 2021
- Featured Image: By Photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash