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FX Market
The South African rand traded relatively stable against the US dollar, euro, and British pound as investors continue to assess developments surrounding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz while digesting softer US inflation data.
The Nigerian naira extended its momentum against the US dollar in the official foreign exchange market, driven by robust FX liquidity and easing demand for international payments.
The Nigerian naira strengthened against Western currencies, including the US dollar, at the foreign exchange market on Wednesday despite an increase in international payments.
The naira climbed against the US dollar to 1,373 at the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) at the close of the trading session on Friday.
The dollar index (DXY) hovered near 99.2 as investors assessed the latest developments in the Middle East and mixed signals over a possible US-Iran agreement that could end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The South African rand (ZAR) depreciates against crosses such as the US dollar, Euro, and sterling on Thursday ahead of the Reserve Bank’s interest rate policy decision.
The Nigerian naira declined across foreign currency markets due to surging demand for the US dollar, the Euro and the Sterling. Daily FX data released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) showed that the local currency closed the trading session at ₦1,375.4073 per US dollar, up from ₦ 1,374.9172 the previous day.
The naira recorded a market-wide rally as Nigeria’s economy expanded in the first quarter of 2026, according to the statistics office, with FX data showing the dollar retreated on Middle East hope.
The South African rand (ZARUSD) rose to R16.4 per US dollar on Friday, hovering near its highest level since mid-May. The local unit saw a last-minute rally after a sharp fluctuation against crosses this week.