Author: Marketforces Africa

Money Market Rates Mixed as System Liquidity Plunges by 60% The money market rates closed on a mixed note as financial system liquidity plunged by 60% amidst declining bank placements with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The sharp liquidity decline followed the settlement for N2.7 trillion OMO bills allotted to foreign portfolio investors and local deposit money banks. The open market operation of the CBN triggered huge outflow from the money market as the authority sought to achieve manageable funding profile. The money market liquidity tightened, opening the day with a balance of ₦1.66 trillion, down by 60% from…

Wealth Exodus from UK Could ‘Potentially Double’ in 2026—CEO Wealth migration out of the UK is set to intensify sharply in 2026, with the number of high-net-worth individuals leaving the country “potentially doubling” as internationally mobile families, entrepreneurs and executives reposition for greater certainty, competitiveness and long-term opportunity. This is the warning from Nigel Green, CEO of global financial advisory giant deVere Group as advisers across major financial centres report a sustained rise in enquiries from UK-based clients exploring relocation options, alternative residency programmes and cross-border structuring. He says: “Strategic relocation planning now sits at the centre of decision-making for…

Ethereum Drops By 3% in Fresh Crypto Selloffs Ethereum (ETHUSD) fell by 3.20% to $3,161.76 in the past 24 hours, underperforming the broader crypto market’s 2.56% decline, despite a 6.06% gain over the previous week. The second-largest crypto asset dipped as investors liquidated long positions, reflecting sustain sentiment volatility after an initial climb. Trading data from CoinMarketCap.com showed that Ethereum trading volume declined by 4% to $26 billion in the last 24 hours as institutional investors took profit on Wednesday. The 24h drop stemmed from a leverage flush, technical exhaustion after gains, and Bitcoin-centric capital rotation – though ETH’s structural…

UK investment companies will continue to benefit from growing institutional demand for alternative assets due to

Interbank Rates Firm, Banks Borrow as SDF Placements Ease Interbank rates steadied due to excess liquidity levels in the financial system, reflecting the absence of funding pressures across money market activities. Deposit money banks have continued to park funds at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) standing deposit facility as the market opened the year strong, which supported the first OMO bills action. Total placement by banks at the CBN window eased on Tuesday, suggesting system liquidity is on the decline ahead of the debit for the latest OMO bills action. Cash-rich financial institutions sought higher returns on the excess…

Oil Prices Slide Below $60 over Excess Supply Conditions Oil prices declined below $60 per barrel on Wednesday over excess supply expectations. The market expects an oil glut to reduce prices of crude oil in 2026, and Goldman Sachs agrees to a price slump in its latest update. The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies’ members’ (OPEC+) decision to maintain the status quo on output is also acting as support for a price drop amidst political conflict among top suppliers—Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. In addition, crude oil prices slipped below the $60 mark in anticipation of…

Nigeria’s Economy Stabilising, Needs Sustained Reforms —Kale Nigeria’s economy is stabilising but remains fragile, requiring sustained reforms to unlock its full potential, says Dr Yemi Kale, Afreximbank’s Chief Economist. Kale spoke on Tuesday at the Nigeria Economic Outlook 2026 hybrid event organised by FirstBank in Lagos. The event was themed ‘The Great Calibration: Mastering Resilience in an Era of Asynchronous Growth’. He said recent improvements in inflation trends, external reserves and exchange-rate flexibility had created “much-needed policy space” for economic management. However, Kale warned that macroeconomic stability alone does not eliminate deep-rooted structural vulnerabilities within the economy. He identified infrastructure…

DisCos Installed 228,614 Meters in Q3, 2025—NERC The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) says Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) installed 228,614 meters in the third quarter of 2025. The commission said this in its third quarter report posted on its website in Abuja on Tuesday. The report said that the figure represented an increase of 0.73 per cent compared to the 226,959 meters installed in the second quarter of 2025. According to the report, during the quarter under review, 176,302 meters representing 77.12 per cent of the total installations were installed under the Meter Assert Provider framework. It also said that…

BTCUSD Rises Near $94k on Intensify Crypto Bulls Actions Bitcoin (BTCUSD) has climbed near its resistance level, as the world’s largest digital asset is now struggling to cross $94k, a point reached last year before it spiralled downward. The market has been caught between hardened bearish traders and new bullish buyers spotting upside in the crypto asset.  However, crypto bulls have intensified buy action in the last 24 hours. Trading data across cryptocurrency exchanges revealed that BTC has gained 1.12% in the last 24 hours, and it has been fluctuating behind $94, raising concerns about a possible price retreat. Price…

XRP Fires Up with 12% Gain as Cryptocurrencies Rally Ripple (XRPUSD) has gained more than 12% in the last 24 hours, outpacing the broader crypto market’s 1.56% gain, supported by retail and institutional investors increasing bets. Retail activities have been mixed; however, institutional tailwinds have continued to offset sell pressure. This pattern has kept the XRP price in an uptrend. The rally is expected to heat up on fear of missing out (FOMO). With the price hovering near $2.40 on Tuesday, XRP has added more than $13 billion to the crypto market capitalisation. The broader cryptocurrency market is trending positively,…