Author: Julius Alagbe

Julius Alagbe is a senior financial journalist and Editor at MarketForces Africa with nearly two decades of experience in finance, accounting, and economics reporting.He is one of Nigeria's most prolific financial market reporters, covering capital markets, monetary policy, corporate earnings, banking, telecoms, and macroeconomic developments across Africa.Julius has built a strong footprint reporting on Nigeria's leading corporates and financial services sector, including coverage of the Nigerian Exchange Group, Central Bank of Nigeria monetary operations, MTN Nigeria, GTCO, and major investment banking transactions.He regularly monitors the CBN’s open market operations, interbank FX markets, and equity market movements, providing readers with real-time intelligence on Nigeria’s financial landscape.His reporting draws on direct access to institutional research from firms including Moody’s Ratings, CardinalStone Securities, Fitch, and other leading African investment houses.Julius brings analytical depth and editorial rigour to every story, making complex financial data accessible to professionals, investors, and policymakers across Africa.Julius Alagbe is based in Lagos, Nigeria.

Rand Gains as Softer US Inflation Weighs on Dollar

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Rand Gains as Softer US Inflation Weighs on Dollar The South African rand (ZAR) gained momentum, strengthening against the US dollar on Wednesday as a softer US inflation print reduced Federal Reserve rate-hike expectations. The local unit traded firmer as the market priced in softer-than-expected US inflation data, which weighed on the US dollar and improved sentiment towards emerging-market currencies. US consumer prices fell as the US-Iran ceasefire, now terminated, eased energy prices, reducing pressure on the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates and supporting demand for risk assets. The South African rand is changing hands at R16.34 to the…

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Brent Tops $85 as Supply Risk Raises Oil Prices

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Brent Tops $85 as Supply Risk Raises Oil Prices Brent crude climbed above $85 a barrel on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump threatened to target Iran’s energy infrastructure if negotiations fail, reviving concerns that an escalation in the Gulf could disrupt global oil supplies. International benchmark Brent crude traded at $85.30 per barrel, up 0.7% from the previous close of $84.73. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) traded at $79.66 per barrel, up 0.4% from $79.34 in the previous session. Trump said Tuesday that US strikes against Iran would continue and intensify in the coming days, warning that Washington…

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