Business
NGX market capitalisation sheds N176bn over selloffs
The domestic bourse on Wednesday halted its three consecutive sessions of gain, as the market capitalisation shed N176 billion or 0.32 per cent.
Specifically the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. (NGX) market capitalisation which opened at N55.437 trillion, closed at N55.261 trillion.
The All-Share Index also lost 0.32 per cent or 307 points to close at 96,203.65, against 96,510.13 recorded on Tuesday.
Consequently, the Year-To-Date (YTD) return decreased by 28.66 per cent.
Selloffs in MTN Nigeria, alongside FBN Holdings, Access Corporation, Wema Bank, amongst other declined equities were the primary drivers of the market’s weak performance.
However, market breadth closed positive with 35 gainers and 14 losers on the floor of the Exchange.
Industrial and Medical Gases led the gainers table by 10 per cent to close at N26.40; and Chams followed with 9.95 per cent to close at N2.32 per share.
Oando gained 9.94 per cent to close at N57.85; Livestock Feed Plc rose by 9.91 per cent to close at N2.24; and Eterna Plc advanced by 9.84 per cent to close at N27.90 per share.
Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals led the losers’ table by 9.09 per cent to close at N2, while Tantalizers trailed by 8.64 per cent to close at 74k per share.
MTN Nigeria lost 7.91 per cent to close at N184; Thomas Wyatt dropped 7.06 per cent to close at N1.58; while Jaiz Bank shed 6.25 per cent to close at N2.25 per share.
Analysis of the market activities showed trade turnover settled lower relative to the previous session, with the value of transactions lowering by 19.59 per cent.
A total of 446.61 million shares valued at N4.53 billion were exchanged in 10,148 deals, compared to 443.16 million shares valued at N5.64 billion traded in 8,493 deals posted previously.
On the activity chart, Universal led in volume with 52.60 million shares valued at N18.78 million; while Japaul Gold followed with 51.80 million shares worth N145.32 million to lead the chart in value.
Prestige sold 35.82 million shares valued at N19.53 million; Tantalizers traded 35.14 million shares worth N28.22 million; and Chams transacted 28.73 million shares worth N65.52 million. (NAN
Nigeria’s public debt rose by 48.5 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to N144.67 trillion ($94.23 billion) in 2024 from N97.34 trillion ($108.23 billion) in 2023.
The Debt Management Office (DMO) disclosed this in its latest public debt profile report.
The debt stock consists of external debt of N70.29 trillion ($45.78 billion) serviced with $4.66 million and domestic debt of N74.38 trillion ($48.44 billion).
The report showed that the country’s external debt increased by 83.89 per cent YoY from N38.22 trillion ($42.5 billion) in 2023.
Domestic debt also grew by 25.7 per cent YoY from N59.12 trillion ($65.73 billion) in 2023.
The report further indicated that the Federal Government’s domestic debt component rose by 32 per cent YoY to N70.41 trillion from N53.26 trillion in 2023.
But the domestic debt of states and the Federal Capital Territory declined YoY by 32 per cent to N3.97 trillion in 2024 from N5.86 trillion in 2023.
The rise in public debt can be attributed to fluctuating trends in exchange rates amidst changes in global economic conditions.
The sharp increase, particularly in external debt, highlights the nation’s vulnerability to exchange rate volatility and changes in global economic conditions.
With the continued depreciation of the naira, the cost of servicing foreign debt could escalate, adding pressure on the country’s financial resources.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has announced the appointment of a new eight -man Senior Management Team.
The appointment followed the recent announcement followed the appointment of the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) and Board of Directors.
Disclosing this in a statement on Friday, NNPCL Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, said the appointments all take immediate effect.
“Following the appointment of the Group Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has announced the appointment of a new 8-man Senior Management Team on Friday,” he stated.
“The team which will be headed by the GCEO, Mr Bashir Bayo Ojulari, has Rowland Ewubare as Group Chief Operating Officer; Adedapo Segun as Group Chief Financial Officer; and Olalekan Ogunleye as Executive Vice President Gas, Power & New Energy.
“Other members of the team are: Udy Ntia as Executive Vice President Upstream; Mumuni Dangazau as Executive Vice President Downstream; Sophia Mbakwe as Executive Vice President Business Services; and Adesua Dozie, as Company Secretary & Chief Legal Officer. All appointments are with immediate effect.”
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the director-generaI of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), says the recent tariffs announced by the United States (US) will have significant implications for global trade and economic growth prospects.
On April 2, President Donald Trump announced sweeping global tariffs on all imports into the US, imposing 14 percent on Nigeria.
In a statement on Thursday, Okonjo-Iweala said the WTO secretariat is closely monitoring and analysing the measures announced by the nation.
The WTO DG said many members have “reached out to us”, adding that the secretariat is actively engaging with them in response to their questions about the potential effect on their economies and the global trading system.
“The recent announcements will have substantial implications for global trade and economic growth prospects,” the economist said.
“While the situation is rapidly evolving, our initial estimates suggest that these measures, coupled with those introduced since the beginning of the year, could lead to an overall contraction of around 1% in global merchandise trade volumes this year, representing a downward revision of nearly four percentage points from previous projections.”
Okonjo-Iweala expressed concern over the decline and the potential for escalation into a tariff war with a cycle of retaliatory measures that could lead to further declines in trade.
“It is important to remember that, despite these new measures, the vast majority of global trade still flows under the WTO’s Most-Favored-Nation (MFN) terms,” she said.
“Our estimates now indicate that this share currently stands at 74%, down from around 80% at the beginning of the year. WTO members must stand together to safeguard these gains.”
According to the WTO DG, trade measures of this size have the potential to create significant trade diversion effects.
Therefore, she called on members to “manage the resulting pressures responsibly to prevent trade tensions from proliferating”.
“The WTO was established to serve precisely in moments like this — as a platform for dialogue, to prevent trade conflicts from escalating, and to support an open and predictable trading environment,” Okonjo-Iweala said.
She encouraged members to utilise the forum to engage constructively and seek cooperative solutions.