Investors lose N478 billion as the equities market continues its decline.

The equities market closed lower on Tuesday, registering a loss of N478 billion as investors took profits on major stocks.

The decline was driven by losses in large‑ and mid‑cap shares, including PZ Cussons, Computer Warehouse Group (CWG), ABC Transport, Wema Bank, Sovereign Trust Insurance, and 33 other stocks.

Market capitalisation fell from an opening value of N158.697 trillion to N158.219 trillion at the close.

The All‑Share Index dropped 874 points, or 0.35 percent, to close at 246,686.66, down from 247,560.66.

As a result, the market’s year‑to‑date (YtD) return moderated to 58.53 percent, while market breadth closed negative with 38 losers and 14 gainers.

PZ Cussons and CWG led the losers’ chart, each falling 10 percent to N88.20 and N21.60 per share respectively.

ABC Transport fell 9.95 percent, closing at N6.88; Wema Bank dipped 9.09 percent to N30; and Sovereign Trust Insurance dropped 8.16 percent, ending the session at N2.70 per share.

Conversely, International Energy Insurance topped the gainers’ chart with a 9.86 percent rise, closing at N5.46. Trans‑Nationwide Express trailed with a 7.14 percent gain, finishing at N5.10, and Neimeth Pharmaceuticals gained 6.80 percent to N11 per share.

Livingtrust Mortgage Bank advanced 5 percent, closing at N4.20, while Abbey Mortgage Bank increased 4.44 percent to N7.05 per share.

The market activity also saw a decline in volume, value, and deals: 718.8 million shares worth N29.3 billion were traded across 71,683 transactions.

This contrasts with the previous session’s 1.127 billion shares worth N44.3 billion traded in 91,880 deals.

Access Corporation led trading activity by volume, with 113.10 million shares exchanged, representing 10.03 percent of the total volume traded that day.

Zenith Bank emerged as the most actively traded stock by value, recording transactions worth N4.81 billion, which accounted for 10.85 percent of the day’s total market turnover.

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