Author: Olu Anisere

Access, Sterling, Wema Get Hold Rating over Limited Upside Potential Access Holdings Plc, Sterling Financial Holdings, and Wema Bank Plc have been placed on hold rating by Afrinvest Securities Limited due to limited upside potential. “Investors are advised to remain neutral, as the expected total returns are not expected to exceed 10.0% based on the prevailing market price as of the report date,” Afrinvest Securities advised investors. Ranked as one of the weak performers in the banking index, Access Holdings Plc’s year to date settled at 7.1%. Hold ratings mean that analysts at the investment firm have taken a neutral…

Oil Prices Edge Higher as Middle East Peace Relapsed Oil prices edged higher in the global commodities market on Monday as Middle East peace relapsed after ceasefire violations. With the geopolitical tensions, supply risks heightened amidst a negative demand outlook. Over the weekend, Syria ended the 50-year rule of deposed president Bashar al-Assad. Israel has continued assaulting Lebanon despite the ceasefire agreement. At the Dec meeting, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies producers (OPEC+) agreed to extend the output cut till next year in a bid to keep price level settled. The World Bank had predicted a global…

Dangote Sugar Seeks to Raise N50bn from Debt Market Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc has opened up its commercial paper offerings for subscription from debt capital market investors. The refinery is in the market to raise N50 billion from series 6 and 7 commercial papers under its N150 billion programme. Its series commercial paper with 180-day tenor attracts 24.9889% discount rate, translating to 28.5% implied yield. Series 7 commercial paper with a 270-day tenor attracts a 24.5524% discount rate, translating to a 30% implied yield for investors. According to investment banking firms, the offer is open to the investing public up…

Chelsea Stage Dramatic Comeback to Beat Tottenham 4-3 Chelsea staged a fightback to beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-3 and move clear of Arsenal in second place in the Premier League table on Sunday. With Liverpool not in action this weekend after their game at Everton was postponed due to a storm, Chelsea’s victory at Spurs lifted them to within four points of Arne Slot’s leaders. Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski put Tottenham two up inside 11 minutes, but Jadon Sancho quickly pulled one back with a fine strike and the second half belonged to the visitors. Cole Palmer equalised from the…

AfDB Advocates Structural Solutions to Tackle Africa’s Economic Challenges The African Development Bank (AfDB) has called for urgent structural reforms to tackle Africa’s deepening economic challenges, including currency depreciation, rising inflation, and an escalating import bill. The AfDB’s Vice-President for Economic Governance and Knowledge Management, Prof. Kevin Urama said that global and local factors contributed to the continent’s economic struggles. Urama said Africa’s currencies, including those of Nigeria, had depreciated sharply against the U.S. dollar in recent years, creating economic instability. He identified global geopolitical conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine-Russia and the Israel-Hamas conflict, as major drivers of…

The bitcoin price has rebounded, trading above in the last 24 hours in the cryptocurrency market, with the total value of all assets settling at $3.66 trillion.

Manchester City Stutter Again, Draw 2-2 at Crystal Palace Manchester City’s Premier League title defense stuttered again with a 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace on Saturday. City twice came from behind to pick a point at Selhurst Park, but the champions have now won only once in six league games – four of which have been lost. Palace led through full back Daniel Munoz’s fourth-minute goal before Erling Haaland headed City level. Maxence Lacroix restored Palace’s lead after the break and Rico Lewis fired a fine 68th-minute leveller for Pep Guardiola’s side. Lewis was later sent off six minutes from…

Nigerian Exchange Rises by N423bn on Strong Bargain Hunting The equities market capitalisation of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) rose by about N427 billion in the just concluded week due to bargain hunting in lightweight and few bellwethers. Top gainers in the stock market week companies with low market capitalisation: Gold Guinea Brew, Sunu Assurance Nigeria, Lafarge Africa WAPCO and others. The market ended the week on a bullish trajectory, with the All-Share Index (ASI) advancing by 0.72% week on week to close at 98,210.75 points. This performance underscores renewed investor confidence, driven by strategic positioning in high-performing stocks amid an…

FBN Holdings Plc’s price was flattish week on week amidst significant off-market transactions conducted by shareholders during the trading sessions, an investment firm said in a note.

Nigerian Bonds Benchmark Yield Flattish on Thin Trading The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) bond secondary market saw a calm conclusion to trading activity as the market anticipates a N7 trillion debt capital market increase in 2025. Following the initial frontload by the debt office, the supply of bonds has significantly decreased. The selloff of the JAN-2026 (+2bps) bond caused the average yield to slightly expand at the short (+1bp) end of the benchmark curve, but it closed flat at the mid and long segments. At the mid-segment of the benchmark curve, trading activity was concentrated in modest volumes, suggesting…