Author: Marketforces Africa

Insurance, Banking Stocks Boost NGX All-Share Index Insurance and banking stocks were top active securities that drove the Nigerian Exchange All Share Index higher at the beginning of the week. Investing activities picked up further on Monday with significant interest in financial stocks ahead of Q4 earnings announcements. The NGX All-Share Index rose by 26 basis points, supported by equities investors’ positive sentiment, which continues to improve even after N2.43 trillion gain posted last week. Details from the NGX showed that market index advanced by 0.26% to settle at 147,427.95 points, and market capitalization rose by ₦247.21 billion to ₦93.97…

Western Indian Ocean Faces $1.14Bn Maritime Security Threat The vital economic engine of the Western Indian Ocean, which is the “Blue Economy”, is being severely undermined by maritime threats that are costing the region a staggering USD 1.14 billion annually. This dramatic figure, equivalent to 5.7% of the region’s gross marine product, was revealed today at a regional meeting in Mauritius, co-convened by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC). The three-day event, hosted at the Sofitel Hotel, centers on three activities: launching the 2025 report on the cost of maritime insecurity in…

Nigeria Moves to Update National Biotechnology Policy Lagos, Nigeria : The National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency has convened a multi-stakeholder review and validation workshop to update and strengthen the National Biotechnology Policy and reposition Nigeria for participation in the global bioeconomy. The two-day workshop scheduled for Dec. 8 to 9, 2025 in Abuja, gathered government officials, researchers and experts to review existing frameworks and ensure the revised policy aligned with scientific priorities. Opening the workshop on Monday, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kinsley Udeh, emphasised that an effective biotechnology policy requires adaptive and forward-looking implementation capable…

UBA Dominates Bankers Award, Emerges as Africa’s Bank of the Year Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has once again, reaffirmed its leadership as one of the continent’s most innovative and resilient financial institutions, after the bank, for the third time in five years, emerged, African Bank of the year 2025 by the Banker.com. UBA also won the Best Bank of the Year awards in nine of its 20 African subsidiaries, bringing its total awards this year to ten as UBA Benin, UBA Chad, UBA Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville), UBA Liberia, UBA Mali, UBA Mozambique, UBA Senegal,…

Central Bank Reduces Bureax De Change Operators to 82 The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has granted final licenses to 82 Bureaux De Change (BDCs) to operate with effect from Nov. 27, 2025. A statement issued in Abuja on Monday by Mrs Hakama Sidi-Ali, CBN’s Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, stated that the exercise was in line with its powers conferred under the Bank and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020. According to Sidi-Ali, it is also an enforcement of the Regulatory and Supervisory Guidelines for BDC Operations in Nigeria 2024, “By this notice, only BDCs listed on the Bank’s…

Oil Rallies Ahead of U.S. Federal Reserve Rate Decision Oil rallies; prices increased in the global commodity market ahead of the US Federal Reserve rate decision on Monday.  The market expects the US Fed to cut interest rates cut — which could support economic growth and bolster energy demand – along with ongoing geopolitical risks affecting Russian and Venezuelan supply. Brent crude was trading at $63.72 per barrel, up around 0.1% from the previous close of $63.64. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) also increased by about 0.1% to $59.99, compared to $59.93 in the prior session. Market expectations for…

Fidelity Bank Rises as Investors Take Positions Ahead of Q4 Nigeria’s leading tier-2 lender, Fidelity Bank Plc, shareholders’ sentiment improved after the Nigerian lender released its earnings scorecard for the first half and third quarter of 2025. The bank’s 50.212 billion shares outstanding were priced at N964.074 billion on Friday close, recording a N10.042 billion weekly gain, supported by shareholders’ improved sentiment over Q4 earnings outlook. Its share price rose to N19.20 amidst increased trading activities, reflecting transactions among influential shareholders ramping up positions in anticipation of stronger Q4 earnings. The price appreciation occurred as trading data showed that more…

Dangote Cement Boosts Shareholders’ Value, Gains 15% Dangote Cement Plc gained 15% week on week as shareholders stepped up buying actions on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) trading platform as sentiment improved. In the absence of a new regulatory disclosure posted on NGX, stockbrokers said nothing fundamentally changed, saying the swing was driven by investors’ sentiment over the company’s earnings outlook. The cement company share price closed at N614.90 on Friday’s close as 234,469 units valued at about N147 million were traded in the local bourse. With the steep positive price movement, the market value of Dangote Cement Plc’s 16.873 billion…

Shareholders Gain N2.43tn as Industrial, Banking Names Rally Shareholders across listed companies trading highs and lows in the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) gained N2.43 trillion as industrial and banking indices led others in the weekly rally. The market regained stability after a prolonged period of decline, extending its bullish momentum for four trading sessions and recording significant gains. The NGX All-Share Index closed at 147,040.26 points, up 2.45% week-on-week, reflecting a renewed investor confidence following weeks of intensified profit-taking. Stockbrokers said the positive sentiment lifted total market capitalisation by 2.67% to N93.72 trillion from N91.29 trillion the previous week, adding N2.43…

MSCI Launches Breakthrough Index Integrating Public Markets, Private Equity MSCI Inc. (NYSE: MSCI) launched the MSCI All Country Public + Private Equity Index, an innovative daily index that combines public markets and a broad private equity view within a single, coherent framework. In an official statement, MSCI said the launch marks a major shift in how investors can assess total equity exposures and measure performance across their portfolio. With private markets increasingly integrated into investment portfolios, private equity is becoming a core component of total portfolio allocation, contributing to diversification, long-term return potential and exposure to segments of the economy…