Final answer:
Adrian made a nominal gain, not a loss, as the sale price of the shares was $400 higher than the purchase price. To determine if there is a deductible capital loss, any transaction fees need to be subtracted from this amount.
Step-by-step explanation:
Adrian purchased 450 shares of stock in X Corp for $89,550 and sold them for $89,950. To determine the capital loss, we subtract the selling price from the purchase price, accounting for any additional costs such as transaction fees (if any).
Assuming no transaction fees:
Purchase Price: $89,550
Selling Price: $89,950
Capital Loss: Selling Price - Purchase Price = $89,950 - $89,550 = $400
However, if there were transaction fees similar to those indicated in the reference examples, they would need to be subtracted from the gains to calculate the net profit or loss. It seems that Adrian has made a nominal gain of $400 and not a loss, but this does not factor in any transaction costs not mentioned in the problem.
As for tax deductions, capital losses can be used to offset capital gains. If Adrian has no other capital gains or losses, and there are no transaction costs as per the information provided, then Adrian would not have a capital loss to report for tax purposes. If, however, transaction fees were present and exceeded the $400 nominal gain, then Adrian would indeed have a capital loss which could be deductible depending on the tax regulations in place.