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.

MTN, ACCESS, WEMA Bank Losses Drive NGX Down by N176bn

MarketNews

MTN, ACCESS, WEMA Bank Losses Drive NGX Down by N176bn Equities investors’ wealth plunged by about N176 billion as MTN Nigeria Plc share depreciation wiped off gains from the buy side of the stock market. Other supporting losers in the stock market include Access Bank, Wema Bank, and Jaiz Bank Plc. The numbers of gainers exceeded stocks that lost value, but the market closed negative due to MTN Nigeria’s weight in the market. According to transaction details, the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) All-Share index fell by 32 bps to close at 96,204.01 points, according to trading details for the day. Stockbrokers…

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GCR Places Sterling Bank Ratings on Review Extension

MarketNews

GCR Places Sterling Bank Ratings on Review Extension Emerging market Africa rating agency, GCR, has placed Sterling Bank Limited’s national scale long and short-term issuer ratings of BBB (NG)/A3 (NG) on review extension, it said in a statement. The emerging market rating said it also placed Sterling Investment Management SPV Plc’s Series 2 N32.89 billion fixed rate senior unsecured bond rating of BBB-(NG), on review extension. The rating process is ongoing, and GCR expects to publicly release the updated rating results before September 30, 2024. However, GCR said ratings assigned at the last review are still in effect and remain…

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NGML- NIPCO Gas JV Inaugurates Gas Project at Lekki Free Zone

MarketNews

NGML- NIPCO Gas JV Inaugurates Gas Project at Lekki Free Zone NIPCO Gas Ltd. and its Joint Venture Partner, NNPC Gas Marketing Ltd. (NGML), on Wednesday inaugurated a gas supply project for the Lekki Free Zone Development Company (LFZDC) in Lagos. The project is delivering over 100 Million standard cubic feet (MMscf) of gas daily. During the inauguration, the Managing Director of NIPCO Gas, Mr Nagendara Verma, explained that this milestone represented a significant advancement in utilising Nigeria’s natural gas resources to fuel economic development. Verma emphasised that the project would stimulate industrial growth and job creation in the Lekki…

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IMF Conditions Nigeria’s Growth Projection on Stronger Reforms

MarketNews

IMF Conditions Nigeria’s Growth Projection on Stronger Reforms The International Monetary Fund (IMF), says achieving Nigeria’s projected 3.1 per cent economic growth outlook for 2024 is dependent on implementation of stronger reforms. Dr Christian Ebeke, IMF Resident Representative, said this at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) International Business Conference and Expo 2024 with the theme: “Invest Nigeria”, on Tuesday in Lagos. Ebeke said that for the country to grow slightly from the 2.9 per cent rate of 2023, further reforms on governance and business regulations were needed. He said that such reforms would transform its growth momentum…

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FG Inaugurates Board for Effective, Affordable Housing Operations

MarketNews

FG Inaugurates Board for Effective, Affordable Housing Operations The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, on Tuesday inaugurated the Estate Surveyors and Valuers’ Registration Board of Nigeria (ESVARBON) for effective operations and affordable housing. Dangiwa, while inaugurating the 22-member professional body in Abuja, said that it was necessary due to the expiration of terms of several of the board members, which has led to a shortage of active members. He said that the board had been unable to meet the quorum of 11 members required by the Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Act. According to him, although a…

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Oil Prices Dip despite Libya’s Move to Shutdown Export

MarketNews

Oil Prices Dip despite Libya’s Move to Shutdown Export In the global commodities market, prices of crude oil have fallen, edging down after a day-prior gain of 3.5% spurred by reports one of Libya’s competing governments is shutting off oil exports in a fight to control the country’s central bank. At the last look, US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil for October delivery was last seen down US$0.51 to US$76.91 per barrel, while October Brent crude, the global benchmark, was down US$0.46 to US$80.97. The eastern-based Libyan Government, headed by Osama Hammad has declared ‘force majeure’ in all oil…

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