Author: Olu Anisere
Olu Anisere is a financial and economic journalist at MarketForces Africa, specialising in African macroeconomic policy, international finance, energy markets, and continental development.He covers major multilateral institutions, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), providing readers with frontline reporting on policies shaping Africa's economic trajectory.Olu has reported extensively on Nigeria's fiscal and monetary policy landscape, including CBN interest rate decisions, Nigeria's bond market, FX inflows, and the country's engagement with global financial institutions.His coverage spans IMF and World Bank Spring and Annual Meetings, African Ministers of Finance conferences, and high-level economic forums where Africa's development agenda is set.His reporting captures perspectives from Africa's most influential economic voices, including Tony Elumelu, senior IMF officials, and CBN leadership, bringing institutional insight and policy depth to MarketForces Africa's readers.Olu also covers Inside Africa — tracking economic, investment, and development stories from across the continent. Olu Anisere is based in Lagos, Nigeria.
With the FTSE 100 bearish and Wall Street bullish, global markets’ trading direction diverges amid renewed optimism following the US-Iran decision to extend the ceasefire, despite reported military attacks between Washington and Tehran.
Bitcoin, Ethereum, Binance Coin, and Ripple’s XRP plunged as renewed tensions in the Middle East triggered about $1 billion in cryptocurrency liquidations.
The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) raised interest rates by 25 basis points, citing escalating global inflation risks linked to the ongoing Middle East crisis and mounting pressure on domestic fuel and food prices.
The South African rand (ZAR) depreciates against crosses such as the US dollar, Euro, and sterling on Thursday ahead of the Reserve Bank’s interest rate policy decision.
Global Equity Market Mixed, FTSE 100 Climbs, Wall St. Steadies Global equity markets continue to face pressure from geopolitical instability, which is affecting buying interest in the stocks of some cross-border policy-exposed companies. The market sentiment weakened following renewed attacks between the U.S. and Iranian military near the Strait of Hormuz, amidst diplomatic talks to end the war that started in February. Asian markets are trading lower on Thursday, First National Bank (FNB) said in a morning brief, a downbeat action linked to renewed uncertainty over United States-Iran talks and disruptions to oil flows. In the same vein, the Hang…
U.S., Iran Trade Attacks Near Strait of Hormuz Amid Ceasefire The United States and Iran again exchanged attacks near the Strait of Hormuz early on Thursday amid a ceasefire and ongoing negotiations on ending the war. The U.S. military attacked an Iranian position from which drones were being controlled, a U.S. official said. U.S. forces also shot down four drones that posed a threat to the U.S., the official said, adding that the targeted position in the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas had been preparing to launch a fifth drone. “These actions were measured, purely defensive, and intended…
XRP Sinks on Sustained Selloffs, ETF Outflows Ripple (XRP) declined sharply, moving below support as a raft of sellers took profits. This negative performance aligned with overall movement across top crypto names on Wednesday. Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Binance Coin are down, and the market has seen sell pressures in Solana, Dogecoin, Tron, Cardano, except Hyperliquid, which posted a price appreciation of 2% Trading in XRP increased by 24%, with transactions valued at $1.8 billion. XRP is navigating a mix of institutional negative sentiment and technical caution, with the price trading at $1.33 amid a bearish death cross. XRP price is…
Oil prices fell as uncertainties surrounding negotiations between Iran and the US, and rising tensions, weakened expectations for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
South African rand (ZAR) is trading steady against Western currencies, including the US dollar, the European single currency (Euro), and British sterling (GBP), amid easing global oil prices in the commodity market.
GCR Ratings (GCR) has affirmed the national scale long-term and short-term issuer ratings of AAA(NG) and A1+(NG), respectively, accorded to MTN Nigeria Communications Plc.