By TAIYE OLAYEMI

The Nigerian Exchange Ltd. Equities market on Tuesday shed N256 billion, driven by losses in 34 stocks.

The market capitalisation declined by 0.16 per cent to N162.495 trillion from N162.751 trillion recorded at the previous session.

The All-Share Index also fell by 394.36 points, or 0.16 per cent, to 250,273.50 from 250,667.86.

Critical Minerals Financing Corporation, ABC Transport, Computer Warehouse Group, Zichis Agro-Allied Industries and Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals were among the stocks that weighed on market performance.

Consequently, the market’s year-to-date return fell to 60.83 per cent.

Market breadth also closed negative, with 34 losers against 26 gainers.

Critical Minerals Financing Corp led the losers’ chart by 9.88 per cent, closing at N3.65, ABC Transport trailed by 9.70 per cent, finishing at N6.05 while Computer Warehouse Group dropped by 7.23 per cent, ending the session at N19.25 per share.

Zichis Agro Allied Industries fell by 6.58 per cent, settling at N17.05 and Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals decreased by 6.17 per cent, closing at N7.60 per share.

On the gainers’ chart, Tripple Gee topped by 9.77 per cent, finishing at N2.81, Livestock Feeds followed by 9.74 per cent, closing at N10.70 and NPF Microfinance Bank rose by 9.52 per cent, settling at N4.60 per share.

Also, Sovereign Trust Insurance gained by 8.23 per cent, closing at N2.50 while WAPIC increased by 7.69 per cent, ending the session at N2.38 per share.

Meanwhile, trading activity weakened during the session as total volume fell by 33.82 per cent to 579.25 million shares, valued at N36.07 billion in 41,072 transactions.

Access Corporation led the volume chart with 192.58 million shares, representing 33.25 per cent of total transactions.

Aradel Holdings dominated trading by value with N7.63 billion, accounting for 21.14 per cent of the day’s total value. (NAN)

Update news