Economy
Asian Equities Finish Higher Amid Cautious Trading
By Investors Hub
Asian stocks struggled for direction before finishing mostly higher in cautious trading on Wednesday as investors awaited cues from high-stakes talks between the U.S. and Canada as well as China?s official factory PMI due on Friday.
Canada’s Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland has arrived in Washington to resume talks about the future of the three-nation North American Free Trade Agreement after the U.S. and Mexico agreed to a new trade deal on Monday.
Chinese stocks closed lower after the country?s state planner warned of increased economic risks in the second half of the year and said greater efforts are needed to hit key development goals.
The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index dropped 8.69 points or 0.3 percent to 2,769.29, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index inched up 64.82 points or 0.2 percent to 28,416.44.
Japanese stocks extended gains for the seventh straight session as technology stocks followed their U.S. peers higher. The Nikkei 225 Index rose 34.75 points or 0.2 percent to 22,848.22, and the broader Topix index closed 0.5 percent higher at 1,739.60.
Tokyo Electron, Sumco Corp. and Advantest Corp. rallied 1-2 percent. Automakers turned in a mixed performance amid the threat of U.S. auto tariffs after the new U.S.-Mexico trade deal proposed levying punitive tariffs of up to 25 percent on imports of Mexican-made cars, sport utility vehicles and auto parts above certain volumes.
Australian shares finished notably higher as easing global trade tensions helped lift financial and material stocks. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index climbed 47.50 points or 0.8 percent to 6,352.20, while the broader All Ordinaries Index ended up 43.40 points or 0.7 percent at 6,457.
The big four banks offering high dividend yields climbed 2-3 percent, and insurers QBE Insurance and Suncorp Group advanced 1.5 percent and 1.8 percent, respectively.
Miners also posted broad-based gains, helped by a rise in commodity prices. BHP Billiton rose 1.3 percent to extend gains for a fifth straight session, while South32 rallied 2 percent.
Building materials firm Boral jumped 10 percent after reporting a nearly 50 percent surge in full-year profits.
Meanwhile, Virgin Australia lost 4 percent after it reported a full-year loss that widened from last year on impairments and write-offs.
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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