Economy
European Stocks Gain Momentum
By Investors Hub
European stocks are somewhat subdued on Monday even as the U.K. markets rise sharply on the back of a weaker pound after the government ramped up its preparations for a no-deal Brexit in October.
The British pound slid to a two-year low against the dollar after Chancellor Sajid Javid said he would announce an urgent spending blitz to prepare for a no-deal departure from the European Union on October 31.
Caution crept in elsewhere across Europe as investors looked ahead to more talks on the U.S.-China trade dispute as well as the Federal Reserve meeting.
The Fed is expected to announce a rate cut of 25 basis points, bringing the Fed funds rate target to 2-2.25 percent. Investors will be looking for more information on whether the Fed may announce further rate cuts in the future.
While the U.K.?s FTSE 100 Index has spiked by 1.9 percent, the French CAC 40 Index and the German DAX Index are both up by 0.2 percent.
Just Eat has soared and Takeaway.com has jumped after the companies reached an agreement in principle on the key terms of a possible all-share combination.
Medical technology company Siemens Healthineers has also surged higher after reporting a 20 percent rise in third-quarter net income and confirming its full-year outlook.
Sanofi has also rallied. The French pharmaceutical company upwardly revised its guidance for full-year business earnings growth to approximately 5 percent after recording a solid business performance in the second quarter.
London Stock Exchange Group shares have also spiked after the exchange operator confirmed that it is in discussions to buy financial data and trading platform provider Refinitiv for a total enterprise value of about US$27 billion.
On the other hand, Swiss drug giant Novartis has declined. The company announced that a global Phase III PARAGON-HF study in heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction or HFpEF narrowly missed statistical significance for its composite primary endpoint.
Heineken N.V., the world’s second largest brewer, has also slumped after its first-half profit missed estimates.
Deutsche Boerse AG shares have also fallen. The German stock exchange operator said that it does not expect its discussions with Refinitiv Holdings on a potential purchase of certain FX business units to be successfully completed.
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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