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.

Saudi Arabia Mineral Wealth Rises by 90% Since 2016 -S&P

Global Market

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,…

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Congo Completes $750m International Bond Issuance at 9.5%

Inside Africa

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…

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StanChart, B2C2 to Expand Institutional Access to Digital Assets

Cryptocurrency

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…

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Ecobank Nigeria Unveils Business App to Boost SME Growth

Mobile Banking

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…

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Naira ‘Swings Right’, Touches Intraday Low of N1,345

FX Market

Naira ‘Swings Right’, Touches Intraday Low of N1,345 The naira swung right against the US dollar, extending its daily rally in succession on the back of sufficient FX liquidity at the official window, according to updated data from the Central Bank of Nigeria on Wednesday. Spot rates traded mixed at the official and parallel market following the authority approval of $150k FX sales for Bureau de Change (BDCs) operators that have been officially licensed. At the CBN window, the local currency gained 0.15% to ₦1,348.95/$ while rate was steadied at ₦1,426/$ in the parallel market, reflecting divergent currency dynamics between…

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First Holdco Writes Off N27m as Bad Debt, Not N748bn

Analysis

First Holdco Writes Off N27m as Bad Debt, Not N748bn Screaming headlines, First Holdco wrote off N748 billion in bad debt, is a wrong explanation if International Financial Reporting Standard 9 on expected credit losses. The impairment charge, an attempt to clean up the balance, surged on legacy loans that have not been performing; if recovered later, there will be a write-back in the profit or loss statement. The charge is a non-cash provision that reduces the asset value on the balance sheet. FirstHoldco’s profit plunged because the group impairment on credit losses spiked by 75% after the Central Bank…

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