Author: Olu Anisere

Aso Savings Gains 106% Since Mortgage Institution Returns to Market With a 106% re-rating since it returned to the Nigerian Exchange in October, Aso Savings and Loans is one of the financial stocks not to underrate for potential upside. Fast and furious gain is a common trend for companies returning to the stock market for trading or a new listing. Aso savings and loans, a primary mortgage institution in Nigeria, is announcing its return to active trading with more than a 56% price gain on the Nigerian Exchange. The sustained positive price upticks seen in the two weeks have been…

Naira Gains N15.23 Against Dollar at Official Market The Naira on Friday extended its gain, closing the trading week stronger at N1,421.73 to the dollar at the official foreign exchange market. Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) showed that the local currency appreciated by N15.23 or 1.07 per cent compared with N1,436.97 recorded on Tuesday. The latest gain continues a weeklong positive trend that has seen steady appreciation in the value of the Naira. The local currency traded at N1,452.79 to the dollar on Monday, N1,448.20 on Tuesday, and N1,444.42 on Wednesday. Financial analysts have lauded the sustained…

Arsenal Beat Burnley to Stretch Premier League Lead Arsenal moved seven points clear at the top of the Premier League with a straightforward 2-0 victory over Burnley at Turf Moor as their mastery of set pieces again proved irresistible on Saturday. Viktor Gyokeres opened the scoring in the 14th minute from yet another corner routine involving Declan Rice and Gabriel, with the Swede touching in from close range. Arsenal were in cruise control in the 35th minute, this time from open play, as a sweeping counter-attack ended with Rice thumping a header past Burnley goalkeeper Martin Dubravka. Burnley did not…

CBN Sells 60-Day OMO Bill to Investors at 21.7% Interest Rate The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) sold 60 days to maturity OMO bills to investors during the last-moment auction for October 2025 with an underwhelming subscription level. Reacting to a robust liquidity level in the financial system, the Apex Bank opened N600 billion OMO bills for subscription on Friday at the primary market auction. The CBN offered banks and foreign portfolio holders’ short-term OMO bills across two standard tenors – 46 days and 6 days to maturity. The 46-day bill recorded no sales due to subdued demand and higher…

UK Private Sector Economy Regains Momentum in October -PMI The UK private sector economy regained some momentum in October, with stronger output growth underpinned by another modest upturn in the service economy and the first expansion of manufacturing production for 12 months. In its purchasing manager index, S&P reported that new business volumes also increased in October, which contributed to the least marked rate of private sector job shedding since May. At the same time, input price pressures moderated to the lowest since November 2024. This led to a slower rate of output charge inflation, driven by a weaker uplift…

GCR Downgrades Dangote Industries Ratings, Outlook Evolving GCR Ratings has downgraded Dangote Industries Limited’s national scale long-term and short-term issuer ratings to A+(NG) and A1(NG), respectively, from AA+(NG) and A1+(NG) previously. The ratings agency also downgraded the group’s national scale long-term issuer rating accorded to each of Dangote Industries Funding. The funds downgraded include Series 1 Tranche A and Tranche B Bonds as well as the Series 2 Bond to A+ (NG) from AA+ (NG) previously. With the expectation that if the Group’s cash flow improves in less than 18 months, the outlook on the group’s ratings will be revised…

UBA Grows Profit by 2.3% to N538bn, Bucks Negative Earnings Trend The United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, a Pan-African bank, defied the downward earnings trend observed among tier-1 banks during the first nine months of the 2025 financial year, achieving a net income growth of 2.3% compared to the previous year. UBA released the group’s unaudited results for 9M-2025 on the Nigerian Exchange, with profit after tax increasing modestly by 2.3% year on year to N537.53 billion from N525.31 billion in the equivalent period in 2024. Gross earnings expanded by 3% year on year to N2.468 trillion, according to…

First Holdco’s Net Profit Slumps by 13% to N458 Billion First Holdco Plc’s profit after tax slumped by 13% year on year to N458 billion; details obtained from its 9M-2025 earning results revealed. The sharp year on year reduction in the group bottom line affected its investors metric significantly, reflecting new shares issues. Analysts noted that weak non-core income and elevated operating expenses remain headwinds to profitability. In the period, First Holdco earnings per share fell by 27.3% year on year to N10.65 from N14.64 posted in the equivalent period. The group performance was affected negatively because of 49.1% year…

Oil Prices Fall as Markets Weigh China’s Weak Economic Data Oil prices declined on Friday, pressured by a stronger dollar, weak economic data from China, and expectations of rising global supply. The markets anticipate Chinese imports to reduce as factories decline amidst the OPEC group plan to increase output. Brent crude was trading at $63.96 per barrel, down 0.07% from the previous close of $64.01. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) also decreased by 0.11% to $60.06, compared to $60.13 in the prior session. The US Federal Reserve (Fed) on Wednesday cut its policy rate by 25 basis points, as…

FG to Position Nigerian Ports Among Top 3 in Africa The Federal Government (FG) has intensified efforts to actualise the implementation of the National Single Window at the nation’s ports by 2026. Vice-President Kashim Shettima said this on Thursday during the second meeting of the Ports and Customs Efficiency Committee at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Shettima explained that the policy aimed at creating a single platform to harmonise documentation, minimise human contact, and bring full transparency to the cargo clearance process, adding that it would be a game changer at the ports He noted that the target was to reduce…