By Dipo Olowookere
A total of $5.9 billion has been released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in nine months as intervention into the foreign exchange (forex) market.
According to the Managing Director of Afrinvest Securities, Mr Ayodeji Ebo, the amount is what the apex bank has released in its weekly intervention, which started in April 2017.
Mr Ebo said the figure was an improvement compared to the $9.6 billion spent in during same period of 2016.
Speaking in Lagos at the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN) Economic Outlook themed ‘Nigeria Economy and Financial Market Outlook: 2017 Review and 2018 Outlook’, the financial expert said the Investors’ & Exporters’ Forex Window has recorded over $27.8 billion in turnover and brought about transparency and stability in the market.
He added that current account stabilised in surplus position, expanding to $9.6 billion annualised in nine months, from $2.7 billion in fiscal year 2016.
He said the foreign investors will be happy to see the interest rate remain at 14 per cent, even as the stability in the market has helped the foreign investors know that the economy is stable.
“Foreign portfolio investments provide liquidity and confidence to the market. And keeping the interest rate at 14 per cent will help keep them coming,” he said.
Speaking on loans to small and medium enterprises, he said delay and outright non-payment of borrowed funds by SMEs is making it difficult for key lenders within the sector, including Bank of Industry to grant further credits to operators.
He said it is only when loans are repaid on timely basis that the lender has more capacity to lend to their borrowers.
He said that inflation rate is still higher than Monetary Policy Rate, which makes it easier for investors to go for fixed income securities like Treasury Bills, Bonds and other instruments that help investors create lasting wealth.
Mr Ebo said the year 2018 remains an opportunity for investors to make money in both equities and fixed income securities, but advised investors to time their entry and exit accurately in order not to lose their funds.
According to him, there is strong correlation between oil price rise and equities performance, adding that investors always look out for profitable businesses and those with great prospects.
Speaking on the stability in the forex market, he said rate convergence has already been achieved by the CBN, adding that with low exchange rate margin, speculators have virtually abandoned the market.
“Foreign investors also consider the margin between both official and parallel market level. When there is little or no volatility in the market, that gives foreign investors’ confidence. The naira gained 35 percent year-on-year against the dollar to close at N363 to dollar by year-end in the parallel market,” he said.
He said the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) of the Federal Government was built on five pillars, stabilize the microeconomic environment, achieve agriculture and food security, improve transportation infrastructure, ensure energy sufficiency in power and petroleum products and drive industrialization, focusing on small and medium enterprises.
Adedapo Adesanya