Author: Marketforces Africa

PTAD Disburses N55.9bn Monthly Pensions, Outstanding Arrears The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has disbursed a total sum of N55.9 billion as monthly pensions and pension arrears to eligible pensioners The Next-of-Kins of (NoK) also received pensions of their deceased family members under the Defined Benefits Scheme (DBS) in December, 2025. This was contained in a statement issued by the Head, Corporate Communications Unit, PTAD, Mr Olugbenga Ajayi, in Abuja on Friday. He said that a total of N13,411,400,362.87 was paid as monthly pensions across all operations pension departments, including Diaspora Pensioners, while N42,501,348,236.06 was paid as pension arrears. Ajayi…

Naira Closes 2025 at N1435/$ with $45.488bn in External Reserves With gross external reserves totalling $45.488 billion, the naira closed 2025 strong, appreciating to N1435 per US dollar at the Nigerian foreign exchange market on Wednesday. The official exchange rate was bolstered by the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) sustained FX intervention in support of local inflows, as year-end effects led to a significant dollar outflow in the fourth quarter. The CBN funded a significant outflow amid a sharp reduction in FX inflows into the currency market, recording a 95% weekly decline, according to Coronation Merchant Bank Limited. CBN updated…

Equity Investors Gain N533bn, NGX Closes 2025 at N99.38trn Equity investors trading highs and lows in the Nigerian stock market recorded about N533 billion gained on Wednesday due to sustained bargained hunting in the local bourse. The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) sustained its upward trajectory, closing the year positively as the All-Share Index climbed 0.37% to 155,613.03 points. The stock market capitalisation expanded by ₦532.94 billion to reach ₦99.38 trillion, representing a 0.54% increase driven by the Chapel Hill Denham listing of ₦163.6 billion NREIT on the NGX. Activity metrics weakened, with trade volume reducing by 73.75% to close at 1.2…

Oil Prices Edge Higher on Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks Uncertainty Oil prices edged higher in the global commodity market on Tuesday as concerns grew that peace talks between Russia and Ukraine could falter after Moscow accused Kyiv of attacking President Vladimir Putin’s residence. Brent crude traded at $61.39 per barrel, up 0.3% from the previous close of $61.23. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) also increased by 0.3% to $57.94, compared to $57.74 in the prior session. Russian President Vladimir Putin told US President Donald Trump during a phone call that Ukraine’s drone attack on the presidential residence in his country’s…

NGX Records 80% Local participation, 21% Foreign in 2025 Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group, Dr Umaru Kwairanga says domestic investors dominated trading activities on the Nigerian Exchange in the year, accounting for 80 per cent of total transaction value. Kwairanga, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday, said foreign investors contributed roughly 21 per cent of total turnover, reflecting growing offshore interest in Nigerian assets. “This participation highlights strong local confidence alongside emerging foreign investor interest,” he said. He noted that in spite of global uncertainties and foreign exchange challenges, the equities market remained resilient…

Crude Oil Prices Climb Amidst Global Supply Concerns Crude oil prices climbed, with Brent moving near $61 per barrel on Monday as markets priced in supply risks amidst progress in talks between Washington and Ukraine to end the ongoing war. The commodity prices were influenced by escalating tensions in the Middle East and heightened concerns over potential supply disruptions. Brent crude traded at $60.87 per barrel, up 0.7% from last Friday’s close of $60.43. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was at $57.27 per barrel, rising around 0.7% compared with $56,86 last week. US President Donald Trump said Sunday that…

XRP Edges Higher over Tight Crypto Exchange Supply Ripple (XRPUSD) price swung higher by 1.07% to $1.87 over 24 hours, outperforming the broader crypto market’s daily gain of +0.54%, trading data obtained across exchanges showed. XRP price movement reflects mixed sentiment and supply tightening that lifted its market value to $112.55 billion following a 4.24% increase in trading volume to $1.07 billion.  This comes after testing key support levels and amid mixed technical signals. Trading data signalled that investors actively defended $1.86 Fibonacci support on Sunday amidst supply tightening, a zone defended since pre-holiday trading session. Trading data suggests institutional…

NGX Inches Near N98trn as Equities Investors Gain N953bn The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) market capitalisation neared N98 trillion as Santa Claus rally boosted equities investors’ portfolio value by more than N953 billion in 3 days. The local bourse closed the pre-Christmas trading week on a confident footing, Cowry Asset Management Limited said, riding a wave of festive optimism and sustained risk-on sentiment. Equities investor appetite remained tilted toward mid- and large-cap names, stockbrokers said with consumer goods and banking stocks firmly in focus as portfolio managers continued to reshuffle positions ahead of year-end book closure. Despite the shortened trading week,…

Global Equities Swing Influenced by Rates Signal, AI Optimism Global equity markets were mixed during the holiday-shortened week, influenced by investors’ sentiment and central bankers’ policy signals ahead of 2026. In the U.S., the S&P 500 and Dow Jones hit record highs, Anchoria Securities Limited said in a note, supported by strong economic data and optimism around artificial intelligence (AI), while the small-cap Russell 2000 underperformed. U.S. economy grew at an annualized 4.3% in Q3, the fastest pace in two years, driven by consumer spending, higher exports, and a rebound in government expenditure. However, durable goods orders fell 2.2% in…

Northern Interest Group Wants Tax Reform Laws Reviewed A Northern interest group, Arewa 100 Percent Focus, has called for the review of material discrepancies between the versions of the tax reform bills passed by the National Assembly and the copies subsequently gazetted by the Executive. The group made the call in a statement issued by its National President, Dr Abubakar Fakai, in Abuja on Saturday. Fakai said, “Our attention has been drawn to alarming revelations by Rep. Abdussamad Dasuki, representing the Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal Constituency in Sokoto State under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). “On Dec. 17, 2025, Hon. Dasuki raised…