Author: Marketforces Africa

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…

Tinubu Hails $1.1bn Financing for Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway President Bola Tinubu has praised the Federal Ministry of Finance for successfully closing a $1.126 billion financing package for Phase 1, Section 2 of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway. This is contained in a statement issued by Presidential spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga, on Friday in Lagos. Tinubu also commended the Ministries of Finance and Works, alongside the Debt Management Office, for their collaboration in concluding the landmark transaction. “This is a major achievement, and closing this transaction means the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway will continue unimpeded. “Our administration will continue to explore available funding…

Nigerian Stock Market Transactions Reduces by 379% Investors in the Nigerian stock market traded a total turnover of 2.876 billion shares worth N63.832 billion in 80,229 transactions on the floor of the Exchange this week. The Nigerian Exchange Ltd.(NGX) weekly report made available in Lagos, said this was in contrast with 9.849 billion shares valued at N305.843 billion that exchanged hands last week in 126,584 deals. As a result, the value of transactions traded by investors on the Exchange declined by 379.1 per cent. Meanwhile, the market opened for three trading days this week as the Federal Government declared Thursday…

Digitalisation: Nigeria Unveils ECM to Transform Oil Sector The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has inaugurated the Enterprise Content Management (ECM) System at the Ministry of Petroleum Resources. The ECM system “Go-Live” programme was unveiled on Wednesday in Abuja by Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), alongside Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Oil). Also in attendance were Mrs Patience Oyekunle, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, top management officials of the ministry, HCSF, and the Galaxy Backbone Limited, the custodian of the 1Government Cloud platform. Speaking, Walson-Jack said the initiative placed…