Equities closed on a downturn due to losses from many blue-chip stocks, especially NEM insurance and Custodian and Allied Insurance, causing market capitalisation to decline by N2 billion. The All-Share Index (ASI) depreciated by 4.08 basis points to 44604.74 points, driven by price depreciation in large and medium capitalised stocks. NEM Insurance recorded the highest loss, dropping by 10.00 per cent to close at N3.96 kobo. Custodian Investment Plc, UACN, FTN Cocoa, Japaul Gold, Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp), Chi Plc, Regal Insurance, Jaiz Bank, International Breweries, Mutual Benefits Assurance, FBN Holdings, Guaranty Trust Bank Holding Company, and GTCO were the top traded stocks. Total volume traded increased 20.8% to 321.753 million units, valued at N3.655 billion, and exchanged in 4,565 deals.