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Mobile Trading Apps – Enabling Informed Participation in Global Markets

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Mobile Trading Apps
In recent years, access to financial markets via mobile devices has transitioned from a convenience to a normative expectation. Retail traders in Nigeria and across emerging economies increasingly utilize trading applications that allow them to engage with foreign exchange (forex), commodities, indices and contracts for difference (CFDs) on global assets—all while enjoying the agility and real-time data access that were previously reserved for institutional platforms. This shift has also led to increased interest in platforms that allow traders to participate on the go, with many now turning to tools that show how to use forex trading app functionalities designed for fast, mobile-first access.

Mobile Trading – A New Era of Access and Control

Modern trading applications combine essential market tools including live charts, economic news, position tracking and risk management features, turning them into a unified mobile experience accessible at any time. These platforms cater to self-directed traders who prioritize transparency, execution speed and usability. Their built-in tools support timely decision-making based on real-time data and analysis, encouraging more structured engagement with the markets.

For numerous Nigerian users, mobile trading presents a practical solution to a traditionally intricate domain.

As articulated by one trader based in Lagos:

“Mobile access has transformed how I manage my trades. I use it every day to monitor global commodities and set alerts for fluctuations in oil prices. Over time, I realised the importance of understanding the broader market structure, not just reacting to price movements.”

This statement shows that trading is shifting toward structured methods instead of simply guessing. It points to a growing trend of using systematic and strategy-based approaches in trading. Unlike institutional strategies, retail trading methods often emphasize agility and accessibility—insights that are explored in detail in this article tailored to Nigerian market conditions.

An Examination of Instrument Types

Mobile platforms typically afford access to CFDs—financial instruments that enable traders to speculate on the price movements of underlying assets without actual ownership. The most common instruments include:

• Forex pairs such as EUR/USD or USD/NGN

• Commodities including crude oil, natural gas and gold

Trading CFDs carries inherent risk and may result in losses exceeding initial deposits. Users should ensure they fully understand how these instruments operate before trading.

Risk Management and Technical Tools

The most trustworthy mobile trading applications prioritize not only execution but also user control and autonomy. This includes features such as:

• Stop-loss and take-profit settings

• Real-time margin alerts

• Multi-timeframe charts with customized indicators

Tools such as stop-loss and margin alert settings help maintain trading discipline and reduce the likelihood of reactive decision-making during volatile periods, according to recent user feedback.

As expressed by one retail trader in Abuja:

“When USD volatility increased, my application sent me margin alerts, which helped me manage my exposure. I may not trade large amounts, but this control is very important to me.”

Risk Transparency and Market Trends

In contrast to aggressive marketing strategies or promises of rapid returns, responsible trading platforms are increasingly focusing on transparency and accountability. They offer:

• Real-time spreads and fees
• An absence of misleading depictions of opulent lifestyles or guarantees of profit

For instance, one platform recently reported a 40% increase in Bitcoin’s value between January and April 2025. While this performance may attract certain traders, the information is presented impartially, prompting questions rather than assumptions: Will the trend continue, or is a correction on the horizon?

A recent report noted that Bitcoin had gained nearly 50% from its April lows, attributing the rise to institutional interest while also cautioning about ongoing volatility.

This balanced, informative approach—rather than a coercive one—is the standard modern platforms aspire to uphold.

Nigeria’s Growing Influence in Mobile Trading

As internet access improves and financial education programs spread, more users in Nigeria are embracing mobile trading, seeking not just quick outcomes but also adaptability and involvement. It is now typical for traders to use technical analysis while they are on the move, keeping tabs on oil prices connected to local economic factors or assessing currency fluctuations associated with inflation.

The Asia-Pacific and West African regions are developing platforms with features such as swap-free options, low-latency execution and multilingual support. The utilization of these features is growing rapidly.

As described by a trader from Port Harcourt:

“I began with a demo account to understand market dynamics. After three months, I transitioned to a live account with modest trades.”

The platform was described as structured and easy to navigate by the user. This carefully considered, research-oriented approach is increasingly supported by mobile trading applications.

Empowering Informed Trading

Mobile trading should not be viewed as a shortcut to financial independence; rather, it is a tool. A well-structured and data-informed trading platform can provide market access for users who engage in trading with discipline and awareness. Applications that prioritize strong infrastructure, speed and control, rather than sensationalism, are reshaping global finance via mobile devices. Mobile access also allows for a broader user base to participate in financial systems that were once geographically or institutionally restrictive. As these platforms evolve, they continue to serve a diverse community of users seeking flexible, transparent and secure market engagement.

Economy

Nigerian Stocks Close 1.13% Higher to Remain in Bulls’ Territory

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Nigerian Stocks1

By Dipo Olowookere

The local stock market firmed up by 1.13 per cent on Friday as appetite for Nigerian stocks remained strong.

Investors reacted well to the 2026 budget presentation of President Bola Tinubu to the National Assembly yesterday, especially because of the more realistic crude oil benchmark of $64 per barrel compared with the ambitious $75 per barrel for 2025. This year, prices have been between $60 and $65 per barrel.

Business Post observed profit-taking in the commodity and energy sectors as they respectively shed 0.14 per cent and 0.03 per cent.

But, bargain-hunting in the others sustained the positive run, with the consumer goods index up by 3.82 per cent.

Further, the industrial goods space appreciated by 1.46 per cent, the banking counter improved by 0.08 per cent, and the insurance industry gained 0.04 per cent.

As a result, the All-Share Index (ASI) increased by 1,694.33 points to 152,057.38 points from 150,363.05 points and the market capitalisation chalked up N1.080 trillion to finish at N96.937 trillion compared with Thursday’s closing value of N95.857 trillion.

A total of 34 shares ended on the advancers’ chart, while 24 were on the laggards’ log, representing a positive market breadth index and bullish investor sentiment.

Austin Laz gained 10.00 per cent to close at N2.42, Union Dicon also jumped 10.00 per cent to N6.60, Tantalizers increased by 9.80 per cent to N2.69, Aluminium Extrusion improved by 9.78 per cent to N12.35, and Champion Breweries grew by 9.71 per cent to N16.95.

Conversely, Sovereign Trust Insurance dipped by 7.42 per cent to N3.87, Royal Exchange lost 6.84 per cent to trade at N1.77, Omatek slipped by 6.84 per cent to N1.09, Eunisell depreciated by 5.88 per cent to N80.00, and Eterna dropped 5.63 per cent to close at N28.50.

Yesterday, traders transacted 1.5 billion units worth N21.8 billion in 25,667 deals compared with the 839.8 million units sold for N32.8 billion in 23,211 deals in the preceding session, showing a surge in the trading volume by 76.61 per cent, an uptick in the number of deals by 10.58 per cent, and a shrink in the trading value by 33.54 per cent.

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Economy

FrieslandCampina, Two Others Erase N26bn from NASD OTC Bourse

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FrieslandCampina

By Adedapo Adesanya

Three stocks stretched the bearish run of the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange by 1.21 per cent on Friday, December 19, with the market capitalisation giving up N26.01 billion to close at N2.121 billion compared with the N2.147 trillion it ended a day earlier, and the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) dropping 43.47 points to 3,546.41 points from 3,589.88 points.

The trio of FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc, Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc, and NASD Plc overpowered the gains printed by four other securities.

FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc lost N6.00 to sell at N54.00 per unit versus N60.00 per unit, NASD Plc shrank by N3.50 to N58.50 per share from N55.00 per share, and CSCS Plc depleted by N2.91 to N33.87 per unit from N36.78 per unit.

On the flip side, Air Liquide Plc gained N1.01 to close at N13.00 per share versus N11.99 per share, Golden Capital Plc appreciated by 70 Kobo to N7.68 per unit from N6.98 per unit, Geo-Fluids Plc added 39 Kobo to sell at N5.50 per share versus N5.11 per share, and IPWA Plc rose by 8 Kobo to 85 Kobo per unit from 77 Kobo per unit.

During the trading day, market participants traded 1.9 million securities versus the previous day’s 30.5 million securities showing a decline of 49.3 per cent. The value of trades went down by 64.3 per cent to N80.3 million from N225.1 million, but the number of deals jumped by 32.1 per cent to 37 deals from 28 deals.

Infrastructure Credit Guarantee Company (InfraCredit) Plc finished the session as the most active stock by value on a year-to-date basis with 5.8 billion units valued at N16.4 billion, followed by Okitipupa Plc with 178.9 million units transacted for N9.5 billion, and MRS Oil Plc with 36.1 million units traded for N4.9 billion.

The most active stock by volume on a year-to-date basis was still InfraCredit Plc with 5.8 billion units worth N16.4 billion, trailed by Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) Plc with 1.2 billion units sold for N420.7 million, and Impresit Bakolori Plc with 536.9 million units traded for N524.9 million.

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Economy

Naira Crashes to N1,464/$1 at Official Market, N1,485/$1 at Black Market

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Official FX Market

By Adedapo Adesanya

It was not a good day for the Nigerian Naira at the two major foreign exchange (FX) market on Friday as it suffered a heavy loss against the United States Dollar at the close of transactions.

In the black market segment, the Naira weakened against its American counterpart yesterday by N10 to quote at N1,485/$1, in contrast to the N1,475/$1 it was traded a day earlier, and at the GTBank forex counter, it depreciated by N2 to settle at N1,467/$1 versus Thursday’s closing price of N1,465/$1.

In the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEX) window, which is also the official market, the nation’s legal tender crashed against the greenback by N6.65 or 0.46 per cent to close at N1,464.49/$1 compared with the preceding session’s rate of N1,457.84/$1.

In the same vein, the local currency tumbled against the Euro in the spot market by N2.25 to sell for N1,714.63/€1 compared with the previous day’s N1,712.38/€1, but appreciated against the Pound Sterling by 73 Kobo to finish at N1,957.30/£1 compared with the N1,958.03/£1 it was traded in the preceding session.

The market continues to face seasonal pressure even as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is still conducting FX intervention sales, which have significantly reduced but not remove pressure from the Naira. Also, there seems to be reduced supply from exporters, foreign portfolio investors and non-bank corporate inflows.

President Bola Tinubu on Friday presented the government’s N58.47 trillion budget plan aimed at consolidating economic reforms and boosting growth.

The budget is based on a projected crude oil price of $64.85 a barrel and includes a target oil output of 1.84 million barrels a day. It also projects an exchange rate of N1,400 to the Dollar.

President Tinubu said inflation had plunged to an annual rate of 14.45 per cent in November from 24.23 per cent in March, while foreign reserves had surged to a seven-year high of $47 billion.

Meanwhile, the cryptocurrency market was dominated by the bulls but it continues to face increased pressure after million in liquidations in previous session over accelerating declines, with Dogecoin (DOGE) recovering 4.2 per cent to trade at $0.1309.

Further, Ripple (XRP) appreciated by 3.9 per cent to $1.90, Cardano (ADA) rose by 3.5 per cent to $0.3728, Solana (SOL) jumped by 3.4 per cent to $126.23, Ethereum (ETH) climbed by 2.9 per cent to $2,982.42, Binance Coin (BNB) gained 2.0 per cent to sell for $853.06, Bitcoin (BTC) improved by 1.7 per cent to $88,281.21, and Litecoin (LTC) soared by 1.2 per cent to $76.50, while the US Dollar Tether (USDT) and the US Dollar Coin (USDC) traded flat at $1.00 each.

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