Author: Julius Alagbe

Tinubu’s Reforms Strengthened Investor Confidence – Leo Stan Mr Leo Stan Ekeh, Chairman of Zinox Group, has described President Bola Tinubu as a courageous and investment-friendly visionary whose reforms have strengthened investor confidence and repositioned Nigeria’s economy. Ekeh said in a statement on Friday in Lagos that the President demonstrated courage by commencing reforms immediately after assuming office. He said any delay would have further shrunk the economy and completely wiped out investors’ confidence in Nigeria. He referenced endorsements by the World Bank and comments by the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, as validation that…

Investors Record N2.4 trillion Gain in Nigerian Stock Market Stock market investors recorded a gain of about N2.4 trillion in the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) on Friday, as the market ended the week on a strong bullish note. Increased and sustained investor interest in stocks such as Nestlé Nigeria, Union Dicon Salt, Infinity Trust, Mc Nicholas, Cornerstone Insurance, and 48 other advancing equities drove the market into positive territory. Financial experts attributed the development to the continuous release of companies’ annual financial reports and the increase in equity investment cap by the National Pension Commission (PenCom) for pension fund administrators. Market…

Tinubu, Elumelu Discuss Tax Reforms, Rower, SMEs President Bola Tinubu on Friday met with Mr Tony Elumelu, Chairman, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group PLC, to advance plans for economic growth and tax reforms aimed at strengthening small businesses. Elumelu spoke with State House Correspondents after the closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He said the discussions focused on how to strengthen small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), describing them as the engine of economic growth. Elumelu said the president was passionate about “capacitising” SME operators and supporting young entrepreneurs across the country. “Today we talked about small and medium-scale…

Seplat, Deap Capital, and R.T BRISCOE drove momentum in Nigerian Exchange (NGX) on Thursday with a N283 billion surge in equities portfolio value, based on trading data obtained.

Ripple (XRP) inched higher by about 2% in 24 hours to $1.38, slightly outperforming a broader market that rose 1.02%, primarily driven by a technical bounce from oversold conditions.

Saudi Arabia Mineral Wealth Rises by 90% Since 2016 -S&P Saudi Arabia is experiencing a transformative shift in its mining sector, propelled by its Mining Strategy — a key pillar of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 aimed at diversifying its economy and reducing reliance on oil, S&P Global said in a report. Substantial increases in exploration budgets, particularly for gold and copper, reflect the Kingdom’s strategic priorities and ambition to unlock new mineral resources, the global rating agency said. Supported by advanced technologies and a robust pipeline of projects, Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as an emerging leader in global mining,…

Congo Completes $750m International Bond Issuance at 9.5% The Republic of Congo has completed an international bond issuance in the amount of USD 700 million, bearing a coupon of 9.5% and maturing in January 2035. According to an official statement, the outstanding principal will be repaid through a progressive amortization schedule in five equal annual installments beginning in January 2031. The authority said this transaction marks the Republic of Congo’s first international public bond offering, confirming the country’s return to the international capital markets, following the successful private placements carried out in November and December 2025. It reflects the renewed…

StanChart, B2C2 to Expand Institutional Access to Digital Assets Standard Chartered (StanChart) and B2C2, a global leader in institutional liquidity for digital assets, announced a strategic partnership to enhance institutional access to digital asset markets. The collaboration combines Standard Chartered’s global banking infrastructure with B2C2’s deep crypto liquidity across spot and options markets. Under the agreement, B2C2 will offer its institutional client base, including asset managers, hedge funds, corporates, and family offices, future direct connectivity and liquidity provision to Standard Chartered’s network of banking rails and world-class settlement facilities. The partnership aims to deliver a best-in-class client experience by combining…

Investors gained N880 billion as the equities segment of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) sustained its upward momentum on Wednesday, with the All-Share Index climbing 0.78% to 178,184.35 points.

Ecobank Nigeria Unveils Business App to Boost SME Growth Ecobank Nigeria has launched the Ecobank Business App, a new digital banking platform designed to strengthen the growth and sustainability of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) across Nigeria. The app allows business owners to manage payments, monitor transactions, oversee cash flow, and run day-to-day financial operations directly from their mobile devices, eliminating delays, queues, and operational inefficiencies. The new application is now available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Speaking at the launch in Lagos, Kola Adeleke, Executive Director, Consumer and Commercial Bank, stated that the Ecobank Business…