The Nigerian Exchange sustained its upward momentum on Tuesday as investors added N307bn to market capitalisation, driven by renewed buying interest in medium-cap stocks that easily outweighed profit-taking in selected equities.

Total market capitalisation rose from N158.812t at the opening of trading to close at N159.119t, while the NGX All-Share Index advanced 0.19 per cent to reach 246,659.56 basis points, up from 246,183.96 points.

The positive session reflected continued investor appetite for fundamentally strong equities following the market’s robust start to the week, with buying interest heavily concentrated across the real estate, hospitality, healthcare, and industrial sectors.

Market breadth closed firmly in positive territory, with 34 gainers outperforming 22 decliners, underscoring broad-based buying activity across key sectors of the local exchange.

REIT and Thomas Wyatt Nigeria Plc led the gainers’ chart, both appreciating 9.86 per cent to close at N11.70 and N3.72, respectively. Ikeja Hotel Plc gained 9.53 per cent to close at N46.55, while The Initiates Plc rose 9.52 per cent to N33.95 and Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc increased 9.47 per cent to N9.25.

Conversely, FG142027S1 headlined the top decliners after shedding 9.98 per cent to close at N67.52, followed closely by Mecure Industries Plc, which fell 9.95 per cent to N76.95. HMCALL Plc dropped 9.86 per cent to N3.29, Consolidated Hallmark Holdings lost 9.85 per cent to N3.02, and Trans-Nationwide Express Plc depreciated 9.68 per cent to N2.80.

Meanwhile, major equities, including Seplat Energy, Presco Plc, John Holt Plc, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Golden Guinea Breweries Plc, Cadbury Nigeria Plc, and Nestlé Nigeria Plc, all closed flat for the session.

Market participants expect investors to maintain a cautiously optimistic stance in the near term by continuing to position in fundamentally sound stocks ahead of upcoming corporate disclosures, though intermittent profit-taking may emerge as traders lock in recent gains.