Economy
Asian Equities’ Early Gains Vaporise to Finish Lower
By Investors Hub
Asian stocks gave up early gains to end mostly lower on Thursday, as worries about the escalating Washington-Beijing trade war overshadowed investor optimism about the NAFTA trade talks.
Chinese shares extended losses for a third straight session as trade fears lingered and investors awaited cues from manufacturing data due on Friday. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index fell 31.56 points or 1.1 percent to 2,737.74, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index dropped 252.39 points or 0.9 percent to 28,164.05.
Japanese shares gave up initial gains to end roughly flat. The Nikkei 225 Index hit a more than three-month high before ending the session up 21.28 points or 0.1 percent at 22,869.50. The broader Topix Index closed marginally lower at 1,739.14. Index heavyweights Fanuc, Fast Retailing and SoftBank Group rose between 0.2 percent and 0.9 percent.
Panasonic lost 1.2 percent on a Nikkei report that the company plans to move its European headquarters out of the U.K. to Amsterdam to avoid potential tax issues related to Brexit.
Retail sales in Japan rose a seasonally adjusted 0.1 percent sequentially in July, a government report showed. That missed expectations for an increase of 0.2 percent.
On an annual basis, retail sales climbed 1.5 percent, exceeding expectations for 1.2 percent but down from 1.8 percent in the previous month.
Australian shares gave up early gains to finish largely unchanged as TPG Telecom and Vodafone Group?s local subsidiary agreed to combine in a proposed merger of equals.
The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index finished marginally lower at 6,351.80, while the broader All Ordinaries Index edged up 3.50 points to 6,460.50.
TPG Telecom shares jumped more than 18 percent and rival Telstra advanced 2.9 percent. Westpac Banking dropped 0.8 percent after lifting mortgage rates, while Commonwealth lost 1.5 percent and NAB shed 0.6 percent. Energy stocks ended mixed despite oil prices rising more than one percent overnight.
Shipbuilder Austal rose 1.2 percent after reporting a full-year profit that more than doubled from last year. Private hospital operator Ramsay Healthcare slumped 6.3 percent as it reported a nearly 21 percent drop in full-year profits on write-downs and restructuring costs.
On the economic front, reports on new building approvals and private capital spending painted a gloomy picture of the Australian economy.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The pre-registration training and examination for capital market operators (CMOs) for the second quarter of 2026 has been postponed.
Business Post gathered that the new date for the exercise is now Monday, June 15, 2026.
This information was disclosed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) through a circular on Monday, June 8, 2026.
The Nigerian capital market regulator stated that this postponement has also resulted in the extension of the deadline for registration to Friday, June 12, 2026.
In the notice today, the SEC expressed its regret for the inconvenience this action may cause operators, who had prepared for the initial date of the training and examination.
“Further to the recent circular on Q2 2026 Pre-registration Training and Examination, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) hereby informs all eligible applicants for the Q2 2026 Pre-registration Training and Examination that the commencement date has been postponed to Monday, June 15, 2026.
“Registration on the designated portal has also been extended to Friday, June 12, 2026. All other conditions contained in the circular remain unchanged.
“The commission regrets any inconvenience this postponement may cause and appreciates the understanding of all applicants,” the disclosure noted.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
One of the leading healthcare firms in Nigeria, Fidson Healthcare Plc, has listed additional shares on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited.
The new stocks absorbed into the stock market were 600 million units, raising the total issued and fully paid-up shares of Fidson to 3,000,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each from 2,400,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each.
The fresh equities came from the company’s rights issue of 600,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each at N35.00 per share.
They were issued to existing investors on the basis of one new ordinary share for every existing four ordinary shares held as of the close of business on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
Confirming the development, the regulator in a notice said, “Trading licence holders are hereby notified that an additional 600,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each of Fidson Healthcare Plc were on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, listed on the daily official list of Nigerian Exchange Limited.
“The additional shares arose from the company’s rights issue of 600,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each at N35.00 per share on the basis of one new ordinary share for every existing four ordinary shares held as at the close of business on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
“With the listing of the additional 600,000,000 ordinary shares, the total issued and fully paid-up shares of Fidson Healthcare Plc have now increased from 2,400,000,000 to 3,000,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each.”
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
This news will surely excite local contractors with verified claims of N100 million or less, as the federal government has approved their payments.
This approval for the disbursement was given by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele.
This followed a verification and reconciliation exercise designed to ensure only validated claims qualify for payment.
The beneficiaries cover contractors across multiple ministries, departments and agencies. The release of the funds is expected to enable contractors to return to project sites, pay workers, settle suppliers and meet outstanding financial commitments.
In an announcement on Monday, the Federal Ministry of Finance also said this latest batch of payments would ease liquidity pressure on small businesses and accelerate economic activity nationwide.
It was noted that the payments for verified claims of N100 million below were strategically done to spread economic impact broadly rather than concentrate disbursements among a handful of large firms.
The payments form part of a broader push to clear inherited contractor obligations, with over N700 billion verified in recent months.
“For many beneficiaries, the release of funds represents more than a financial transaction. It provides the certainty needed to sustain operations, preserve jobs, complete ongoing projects, and contribute to economic recovery and growth,” the ministry said in a statement.
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