Author: Marketforces Africa

Nigeria’s Inflation Rate Rises to 15.15%, Beats Expectations Nigeria’s headline inflation rate rose to 15.15 per cent in December 2025, the statistics office said in a new release in Abuja on Thursday. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicates that the consumer price index (CPI) reversed its 8-month downward trend, settling at 15.15% in December from 14.45% in the previous month. The number is in sharp contrast to Broadstreet analysts’ projections. The market had anticipated a fast and furious inflation surge due to year-end spending and base effects. In a statement, the Statistician-General (S-G), Adeyemi Adeniran, disclosed that the CPI…

BTC, ETH Slide as U.S. Senate Postpones Crypto Bill Discussion Bitcoin (BTCUSD) , Ethereum (ETHUSD) and the majority of altcoins are trading negatively as U.S Senate postpones the crypto market bills discussion, triggering a raft of sell pressure across top digital assets. BTC shed about 1%, while Ethereum (ETH), Ripple (XRP), Solana (SOL), and other major altcoins declined further, leading to a spike in long liquidations. Trading data showed Bitcoin hovering below $97k, and Ethereum has also pulled back below $3400 due to mild sell pressure as investors adjusted to the new market bill development. The US Senate Banking Committee…

Banks Lodgements with CBN Keeps Liquidity Profile Strong Excess liquidity in the financial system surpassed N2 trillion as deposit money banks (CBN) increased their lodgements with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The liquidity conditions remained strong in the absence of a primary market auction despite recent inflows from OMO bills maturities. There was activities at the CBN standing lending facility this week, suggesting potential pressure in the financial system. The market anticipates potential open market operation to reduce excess funds in the banking system ahead of additional inflows. Market analysts highlighted that the surplus funding profile kept short-term benchmark…

Fed. Govt. Targets Strategic STI Growth for Innovation The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology (STI), Dr Kingsley Udeh, says the Federal Government (FG) is prioritising strategic STI development to strengthen Nigeria’s scientific capacity and position the country as a leading scientific hub in Africa. Udeh made this known on Wednesday in Abuja while receiving the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Kuo Sharper Center Foundry Fellows in his office. “Nigeria’s STI vision is bold and clear, our ambition to become one of the world’s leading scientific powers is enshrined in the National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy, ” the minister…

U.S. Suspends Visa Processing For Nigeria, 74 Others The United States (U.S.) has announced an indefinite suspension of visa processing for Nigeria and 74 other countries, effective Jan. 21, 2026. A State Department memo directed consular officers to refuse visas under existing law while screening and vetting procedures are reassessed. The pause begins on Jan. 21 and will continue indefinitely until the Department of State completes its reassessment of visa processing. State Department spokesperson, Tommy Piggott, said: “Immigration from these 75 countries will be paused while procedures are reassessed to prevent entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and…

NGX Confirms UBA Lists 3.156 bln Shares, Liquidity Deepens The Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) has admitted an additional 3.16 billion ordinary shares of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc to its Daily Official List, signaling a major enhancement of the bank’s market capitalisation whilst also deepening liquidity on the capital market. The NGX noted this in a confirmatory letter to the bank, dated January 12, 2026, and signed by Head, Issuer Regulation Department at NGX, Godstime Iwenkehai, who explained that the additional shares were listed following the successful conclusion of UBA’s recent rights issuance exercise. “Following the submission of all…

Naira Drops as Foreign Payments Surpass U.S. Dollar Volume The Nigerian local currency, the naira, dropped against the US dollar across Nigerian foreign exchange markets as international payments began to pick up. The naira rate suggests foreign payments surpassed US dollar volume supplied after data showed FX inflows has been on the decline. Daily FX update released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) revealed that the naira on Wednesday weakened by 37 kobo against the US dollar to close at N1,420.04/$ at the official window. The spot rate depreciation was driven by inadequate supply to meet the market demand…

Global Economy Shows Resilience Amid Historic Trade, Policy Uncertainty The global economy is proving more resilient than anticipated despite persistent trade tensions and policy uncertainty, according to the World Bank’s latest Global Economic Prospects report. Global growth is projected to remain broadly steady over the next two years, easing to 2.6% in 2026 before rising to 2.7% in 2027, an upward revision from the June forecast. The resilience reflects better-than-expected growth—especially in the United States, which accounts for about two-thirds of the upward revision to the forecast in 2026. Even so, if these forecasts hold, the 2020s are on track…

XRP Jumps as Ripple Sees Additional Regulatory Win Ripple, (XRPUSD) edged higher by more than 3% over the last 24 hours in the cryptocurrency market, outpacing Bitcoin’s uptick but trailing Ethereum’s gain on Wednesday Trading at $2.12 following a volume surge, the latest price surge has effectively reversed a 6% weekly decline as a result of general fluctuations in the crypto space. XRP reclaimed its 50% Fibonacci retracement level of $2.09 and holds above the 7-day average at $2.11. Trading data showed that Ethereum trading volume increased by about 94% on the day, settling at $4.81 billion as the reporting…

Nigerian Bonds Yield Surges over Subdued Investors’ Appetite Investors lost appetite for Nigerian government bonds in the secondary market ahead of the Debt Management Office (DMO) monthly auction. To patch the budget deficit in 2025, the authority auctions N3.51 trillion in local bonds via 12 primary market auctions. Total subscriptions for the year printed at N8.956 trillion, according to data released by AAG Capital Limited. The DMO raised N4.979 trillion from bond investors in the market with last-moment yield repricing. The upward spot rates adjustment in the December auction, however, set the tone for investors’ expectations in 2026. The bond…