Author: Marketforces Africa

Zenith Bank Gives Investors 53% Return in 8 Months Zenith Bank Plc upside potential has widened as the financial services company’s share price becomes cheaper for investors seeking value ahead of earnings release. At the reference price of N70 last week, Ajose Adeogun headquartered financial service company with 35 years in operation, has delivered some 53% return in investors to shareholders in eight months. Data from the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) showed the bank’s share price closed at N66, which is approximately a 16% discount below its 52-week high of N78.50. In the stock market, bargain hunting faded sharply last week…

Access Holdings Investors See 13% Price Appreciation in 8-Month Access Holdings Plc dipped slightly in the equity market amidst fading bargain hunting while investors priced in the first half of 2025 earnings delay. The financial services company extended its earnings release date on the Nigerian Exchange after the board announced the result has been transmitted to the Central Bank for final approval. At the close of the trading session last week, Access Holdings Plc’s 53.317 billion shares outstanding in the local bourse valued at N1.412 trillion, N26.658 billion below its previous position. A slew of equity analysts’ target prices for…

Brent Price Eased over Demand, Supply Imbalance in August Brent crude lost more than $4 in August, halting a three-month rally as the US moved to raise tariffs on India and fuel demand showed signs of slowing with the end of the summer driving season. The global demand outlook brightened in May after US President Donald Trump extended the deadline for reciprocal tariffs on the EU, which contributed to Brent finishing the month at $62.60 a barrel, up 2.6% from April. In June, Trump’s announcement of a trade deal with China spurred consumption from the world’s top oil buyer, sending…

Naira Weakens Versus British Pound, Euro, Brazilian Real The Nigerian naira showed mixed performance against major currencies across foreign exchange markets amidst Central Bank sustained interventions. The local currency remained largely stable at the Nigerian foreign exchange market (NFEM), gained three basis points in last week to close at N1,531.57 per dollar at the official window. The year, the local currency has shed 2 basis points against dollar, and pose to make recovery towards the year end on the back of strength on the nation’s external reserves and intervention. Data from the authority showed central rate for Euro on Friday…

Wema Bank Delivers 158% Return to Investors in 8 Months Wema Bank Plc provided the highest return on investment to its shareholders compared to other financial services firms listed on the Nigerian Exchange from January to August 2025, as shown by its share price performance. Now, some equity investment firms have set new price targets on mixed sentiment. The stock market value of Wema Bank has increased significantly as sustained efforts to deepen its footprint in the retail market, using healthy capital spending to boost its digital platforms, attract investors’ attentions. Investors with shares in Wema Bank have gained 158%,…

Ecobank Nigeria Sets Cash Reward to Celebrate Group’s 40th Anniversary Ecobank Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of the leading pan-African banking group has announced the launch of its Super Rewards campaign in celebration of the Group’s 40th anniversary. As part of the campaign, more than ₦60 million in cash rewards has been earmarked for loyal customers. The campaign will run from September 2025 through January 2026. Over the five-month period, a total of 914 customers will be rewarded with various cash prizes amounting to ₦61.2 million, in addition to enjoying a range of benefits that comes with banking with Ecobank. Announcing…

NGX All-Share Index Sheds 0.50% on Tier-1 Banks Losses The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) All-Share index shed 0.50% due to sell pressures on Tier-1 banks, a reflection of investors’ negative perception from their respective earnings delay. The local bourse has been performing negative over the last three weeks as earnings and interim dividends euphoria begin to fade, causing investors stock rotation across sectoral indexes. The selloffs in ZENITH (-5.70%), WAPCO (-3.38%), GTCO (-2.13%), and ARADEL (-1.73%), outweighed gains in tickers like GEREGU (11.11%), NB (+3.24%) and Stanbic (+6.38%). Trading record revealed that the benchmark NGX All-Share Index (ASI) declined by 0.50%…

CIBN Inducts 923 Chartered Bankers, 319 Microfinance Professionals The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) on Saturday inducted 1,242 new members into its ranks of Chartered Bankers and Microfinance Certified Professionals at the 2025 Stream II induction ceremony in Lagos. The event, whi h has its theme as “The Smart Banker’s Compass: Innovate, Adapt, and Solve Like a Pro”, was described as a celebration of excellence, perseverance, and professional growth in Nigeria’s banking sector. Prof. Pius Olanrewaju, President and Chairman of Council of CIBN, in his welcome address, said the inductees had demonstrated discipline, commitment, and resilience in meeting…

Tinubu’s FX Reforms Position Naira as Export Engine -Yakubu Mr Tanimu Yakubu, Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, says President Bola Tinubu’s foreign exchange reforms have repositioned the Naira as a tool for competitiveness rather than weakness. Yakubu, who said this in satement on Saturday, said that when the administration scrapped the country’s multiple exchange windows in 2024, the Naira initially fell sharply, sparking fears of economic collapse. He recalled that the currency plunged to N1,800 per dollar in March 2024, with critics describing it as a “worthless Naira”. “However, what looked like a collapse was in fact…

Nigeria’s Gas Flaring Falls, Production Rises by 8.58% -NUPRC The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) says Nigeria gas flaring has fallen to 7.16 per cent in July 2025, while daily gas production rose to 7.59 billion standard cubic feet per day (BSCFD). The NUPRC, in its Gas Production Status Report for July 2025, released on Saturday said this marked an 8.58 per cent increase compared to the 6.99 BSCFD recorded in the full year of 2024. According to the report, the simultaneous growth in output and decline in flaring underscores the Commission’s drive to boost production while advancing its…