By Adedapo Adesanya

Four price gainers buoyed the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange by 0.75 per cent on Thursday, March 26.

During the session, FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc gained N8.87 to sell at N110.00 per unit compared with the previous day’s N101.13 per unit, Golden Capital Plc rose by 63 Kobo to N13.00 per share from N12.37 per share, Geo-Fluids Plc appreciated by 29 Kobo to N3.18 per unit from N2.89 per unit, and Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) Plc increased by 2 Kobo to 52 Kobo per share from 50 Kobo per share.

As a result, the market capitalisation added N18.91 billion to close at N2.531 trillion versus the previous session’s N2.512 trillion, and the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) grew by 31.61 points to 4,230.46 points from 4,198.85 points.

The volume of securities went down by 84.4 per cent to 342,825 units from 2.2 million units, the value of securities decreased by 50.7 per cent to N23.0 million from N46.7 million, and the number of deals shrank by 27.0 per cent to 27 deals from 37 deals.

Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc remained the most traded stock by value on a year-to-date basis with 39.3 million units sold for N2.4 billion, followed by Infrastructure Guarantee Credit Plc with 400 million units valued at N1.2 billion, and Okitipupa Plc with 6.5 million units traded for N1.2 billion.

Resourcery Plc was the most traded stock by volume on a year-to-date basis with 1.1 billion units worth N415.7 million, followed by Infrastructure Credit Plc with 400 million units exchanged for N1.2 billion, and Geo-Fluids Plc with 133.0 million units transacted for N511.1 million.

After spending time reviewing the FRTX website, its platform pages, and the company’s public disclosures, my impression is that FRTX is trying to present itself not just as a brokerage brand with a landing page, but as a structured trading service built around a browser-based platform, analytics, onboarding flow, and client support. That matters because with newer financial brands, the real question is rarely whether the homepage looks polished. The real question is whether the service has enough visible structure behind the branding to feel like an actual operating environment rather than a marketing shell. In FRTX’s case, there is enough public material on the site to form a practical first impression.

The platform itself is clearly one of the central selling points. FRTX Web is presented as a modern browser terminal for CFD trading, designed to work without mandatory downloads or long setup. The site emphasizes direct browser access, desktop and mobile usability, a quick trading panel, real-time quotes in the order book, MarketCheese forecasts, a MarketCheese economic calendar, and built-in indicators for market analysis in the mobile version. From a product-review perspective, that is a sensible combination. It tells me the company understands that many users want access, analysis, and execution in one place without installing heavy software first.

What also stood out to me is that FRTX is not positioning the platform as a bare terminal. The broader website connects the trading interface to supporting sections such as Analytical Tools, Trading Ideas, the Economic Calendar, Tutorials, News and Views, FAQ, and Online Support. In practice, that gives the impression of a service trying to build a full client environment rather than relying on the terminal alone to do all the work. From a reviewer’s standpoint, that is usually a better sign than when a broker has a flashy login page but very little else around it.

Another point in favor of the platform narrative is that FRTX does not present the terminal in isolation. The website ties the platform to a broader analytical environment. On the Analytical tools page, FRTX describes its Chart tool as a space to build lines and levels, use indicators, and analyze market behavior. The same section includes Market watch, described as a widget for tracking grouped instruments and price dynamics across different periods. This makes the platform look less like a standalone order-entry screen and more like the center of a wider trading workspace.

In terms of usability, the platform pitch is fairly direct. FRTX says the terminal can be launched on PC or in a mobile browser, with no need to download an app, and describes it as fully customizable. The homepage repeats the same practical advantages: quick start without pre-installation, access in any browser, color scheme customization, market-analysis tools, and protection from DDoS attacks. That is the kind of language I would expect from a company trying to appeal to users who care less about technical ceremony and more about speed of access and a clean workflow.

The award messaging is also very visible, and it is part of the platform story whether one likes awards or not. On the trading platform page, FRTX states that the platform received “Best Trading App” at Money Expo Mexico 2025 and “Best Trading Platform” at Wiki Finance Expo 2023 in Sydney. The homepage separately repeats the “Best Trading App of 2025 at Money Expo Mexico” line. I would not treat awards alone as the basis for judgment, but in a review they are still relevant because they show how the company is choosing to position its platform publicly.

Another point worth mentioning is the technology layer behind the experience. Based on the platform structure, browser-first workflow, integrated analysis modules, and the overall execution logic, FRTX appears to be using a mature software product from one of the established players in the trading technology market rather than trying to pass off a rough in-house prototype as a full solution. For users, that is generally a better look. It suggests the company is building on proven market infrastructure instead of improvising where stability matters most. This is an inference from the platform setup and feature mix rather than a direct statement published by FRTX, but it is a meaningful one when assessing the overall product presentation.

What strengthens the credibility of the overall picture is that FRTX does not rely only on platform marketing. The company also publishes public legal and licensing identifiers on the website. According to the platform page footer, the FRTX brand and the names frtx.global, frtx.org, and FRTX Web are owned and operated by FRTX Ltd, registered under number HV01125482 and licensed by the Mwali International Services Authority as an international brokerage company under license number BFX2025158. In a review context, this matters because it gives readers something concrete to verify beyond slogans and design.

The onboarding structure on the website also looks reasonably coherent. FRTX presents a path that starts with sign-up, continues through verification, then moves to account opening, funding, platform access, and eventually withdrawals. The support page adds two visible contact routes: the internal request system for clients and a callback form on the website. That does not automatically answer every operational question, but it does make the service feel more complete. A lot of online doubt around financial brands comes from missing practical detail, and here the company at least tries to show the user journey in a readable way.

That said, a serious review should keep one foot on the ground. FRTX also states that it does not provide services to citizens of the United States, Japan, Canada, Australia, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and several other jurisdictions. The site further includes a risk warning explaining that leveraged trading in CFDs and other derivatives involves a high level of risk and that losses may exceed the original deposit. In my view, this is the correct balance for a brokerage website: platform strengths and access convenience on one side, but a clear reminder that the product itself remains high-risk on the other.

My overall conclusion after reviewing the FRTX platform and website is that the brand is trying to position itself as a usable, modern, browser-first trading service with a visible support structure, integrated analytics, and publicly stated licensing details. The platform presentation is stronger than a generic brochure-style broker site, and the use of established trading technology gives the product a more mature feel. At the same time, the right way to read FRTX is not through hype but through verification: look at the legal entity, look at the license number, look at the service structure, and then decide whether the platform fits your needs and risk tolerance.

Disclaimer:

This material is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Trading CFDs and other derivative instruments involves a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all users. Users should review the company’s terms, jurisdictional restrictions, and risk disclosures before using the service.

By Adedapo Adesanya

Crude prices closed higher on Thursday, rebounding from the previous session’s losses, as hopes for a ​swift end to the war in the Middle East faded.

Brent futures rose $5.79 or 5.7 per cent to settle at $108.01 per barrel, while the US West ‌Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures gained $4.16 or 4.6 per cent to close at $94.48 a barrel.

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed that the US sent a 15-point action list to Iran as a basis for negotiations to end the war, but Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said ​that Iran was reviewing the proposal but that there were no talks on winding down the war.

The 15-point proposal, sent through Pakistan, would remove Iran’s stocks of highly enriched uranium, halt enrichment, curb its ballistic missile program and cut funding for regional allies.

For Iran, it said the proposal lacks the minimum requirements for success and serves only the US and Israel’s interests, but stressed that diplomacy has not ended despite the lack, for now, of a realistic peace plan.

Amid this, President Donald Trump said Iran has offered to let 10 oil tankers transit the Strait ⁠of Hormuz as a goodwill gesture in the negotiations.

A Thai oil tanker passed through the Strait of Hormuz following diplomatic coordination with Iran, and Malaysia said its vessels were also being allowed to transit. Iran also said it would consider any request from Spain related to ⁠the Strait of ​Hormuz because it respects international law.

France held talks with around 35 countries on Thursday as it sought partners and proposals for a mission to reopen the Strait of Hormuz once the war ends.

Reuters reported that the Pentagon, which is the headquarters building of the US Department of Defence, is planning to send thousands of airborne troops to the Gulf to ​give President Trump more options for a ground assault.

On the Iranian side, Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement said it stands ready to strike the key Red Sea waterway again in solidarity with Iran. This indicates that the war may extend for a longer period with the latest developments.

The war has nearly halted shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, which typically carries about a fifth of the world’s crude ​oil and liquified natural gas (LNG) supply, in what the International Energy Agency (IEA) and World Trade Organisation (WTO) have called the biggest disruptions.

Meanwhile, countries continue to feel the impact of the war. ⁠Iraq, the second-biggest crude producer in the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) behind Saudi Arabia in 2025, has seen oil production slump with ​storage tanks reaching high and critical levels.