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.

IFC Acquires US$25 million Equity Interest in Jumia Technologies AG.

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IFC Acquires US$25 million Equity Interest in Jumia Technologies AG. The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, has announced a $25 million equity investment in Africa’s largest public e-commerce platform, Jumia Technologies AG (NYSE: JMIA), according to an official statement obtained by MarketForces Africa. The group said its equity capital in Jumia is to support the expansion of Africa’s digital commerce infrastructure, helping small businesses reach new markets, create jobs, and strengthen economic opportunities across the continent. The investment is expected to enable approximately 60,000 local active sellers each year to participate more…

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US Energy Agency Hikes Crude Price Forecast, Oil Flow Falls 77%

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US Energy Agency Hikes Crude Price Forecast, Oil Flow Falls 77% US Energy Information Administration (EIA) raised its oil price forecast for the third quarter, expecting severe disruptions to oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz to continue throughout August. Brent crude is forecast to average $86.81 per barrel this year, up from the previous forecast of $81.91, according to the EIA’s August 2026 Short-Term Energy Outlook. The agency expects West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude to average $80.88 per barrel, compared with its previous forecast of $76.26. The EIA expects Brent to average $69.39 per barrel and WTI to average…

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Binance Coin Jumps on BEP-675 Network Upgrade Catalyst

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Binance Coin Jumps on BEP-675 Network Upgrade Catalyst Binance Coin (BNB) price jumped by 3.30% to $619.33, significantly outperforming a flat-to-down broader market, primarily driven by a bullish technical breakout and positive sentiment around a key network upgrade. Trading data from across crypto exchanges showed that BNB broke above the $610 pivot point with a significant 31.44% increase in trading volume to $1.36 billion, confirming buyer conviction. This move was supported by the announcement of the BEP-675 upgrade, which is designed to nearly double the BNB Smart Chain’s throughput. BNB Chain unveiled proposal BEP-675, designed to nearly double the transaction…

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BEAT Price Sinks 58% as Investors Take Profit after Strong Rally

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BEAT Price Sinks 58% as Investors Take Profit after Strong Rally Audiera (BTUSD) is down 57.80% to $0.969 on Tuesday, drastically underperforming a flat broader market, primarily driven by a major token unlock and profit-taking after a sharp rally. The sell-off was exacerbated by high leverage, with $2.37 million in long positions liquidated. On-chain data shows extreme concentration, with the top 10 wallets holding 84.11% of the supply, increasing volatility risk. Technical indicators point to an oversold condition, with immediate resistance at $1.3984. This is bearish for BEAT in the near term because it signals a breakdown of buyer confidence…

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