Economy
Asian Markets Fall as Trump Threatens Fresh $325bn Tariffs on China
By Investors Hub
Asian stocks fell broadly on Wednesday after U.S. markets fell from record highs overnight on the back of mixed earnings reports and President Donald Trump’s latest comments about the ongoing U.S.-China trade war.
Trump threatened to impose tariffs on another $325 billion worth of Chinese goods, saying the U.S. still has a long way to go to conclude a trade deal with China.
Chinese shares edged lower in thin trading on worries over slowing growth and the impact of the trade dispute. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index slipped 5.92 points or 0.2 percent to 2,931.69, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index ended down 26.45 points or 0.1 percent at 28,593.17.
Japanese shares ended lower as tech stocks followed their U.S. peers lower, offsetting gains in the financial sector. The Nikkei 225 Index ended down 66.07 points or 0.3 percent at 21,469.18, while the broader Topix finished marginally lower at 1,567.41.
Tech stocks paced the declines, with TDK Corp losing 2.6 percent and Taiyo Yuden sliding 2.4 percent. Banks and insurers eked out modest gains after U.S. government debt yields rose slightly on Tuesday on the back of stronger than expected economic data.
Aeon Fantasy, which operates entertainment facilities in shopping centers, surged 11.6 percent after reporting a 13 percent jump in June same-store sales.
In economic news, Fitch Ratings retained Japan’s sovereign ratings at ‘A’ with a ‘stable’ outlook. The agency said the ?ratings balance the strengths of an advanced and wealthy economy, with high governance standards and strong public institutions, against weak medium-term growth prospects and high public debt.?
Meanwhile, Australian stocks advanced after BHP Group, the world’s biggest miner, reported a rebound in iron ore output for the fourth quarter. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index rose 32.30 points or 0.5 percent to 6,673.30, while the broader All Ordinaries Index ended up 28.20 points or 0.4 percent at 6,764.
BHP shares advanced 1.4 percent, while rival Rio Tinto ended marginally lower and Fortescue Metals Group lost 2.1 percent. Banks ANZ, Commonwealth and NAB rose between 0.4 percent and 0.7 percent.
Energy stocks ended flat to slightly lower as oil prices steadied after falling to more than one-week lows overnight. Oil Search fell over 3 percent as Papua New Guinea’s new prime minister pressed the company and its oil major partners to pay more taxes.
Estia Health slumped 5.8 percent. The company has been hit with a class action suit that alleges the aged care provider deceived investors and breached market disclosure obligations in 2015 and 2016.
Seoul stocks fell sharply as Trump’s comments on trade talks with China dashed hopes of a deal anytime soon. The benchmark Kospi dropped 18.95 points or 0.9 percent to 2,072.92 ahead of the Bank of Korea’s rate decision on Thursday. Tech heavyweights Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix ended down 1.7 percent 2 percent, respectively.
Economy
Champion Breweries Lists Additional Shares on Stock Exchange
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Additional shares of Champion Breweries Plc have been listed on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited.
A circular from the NGX Regulation Limited confirmed this development on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
The new stocks of the brewery company came from its hybrid offer comprising rights issue and offer for subscription.
Through the two exercises, Champion Breweries issued fresh 2,375,615,342 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each to subscribers, which were brought to the stock exchange for listing.
Business Post reports that 931,712,324 units arose from the rights issue of 994,221,766 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each at N16.00 per unit, indicating a subscription rate of 93.71 per cent; and 1,443,903,018 units from the offer for subscription of 2,625,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each at N16.00 per unit, reflecting a subscription rate of 55.01 per cent.
The listing of the new shares of the organisation has increased the total issued and fully paid-up shares to 11,323,611,234 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each from 8,947,995,892 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each.
“With this listing of the additional 2,375,615,342 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each, the total issued and fully paid-up shares of Champion Breweries Plc have now increased from 8,947,995,892 to 11,323,611,234 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each,” a part of the circular signed by the Head of Issuer Regulation Department of NGX RegCo, Mr Godstime Iwenekhai, stated.
Economy
Nigeria’s Finance Minister Rules Out Seeking IMF Loan
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Minister of Finance, Mr Wale Edun, says Nigeria has no immediate plans to approach the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for financial assistance.
Mr Edun made this known at the African Finance Ministers’ briefing during the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings on Thursday in Washington, D.C. United States.
He said reliance on ongoing domestic economic reforms was yielding positive results.
According to him, Nigeria’s reforms over the past two years have restored policy credibility and strengthened resilience against global economic shocks affecting many African economies, adding that the country has prioritised market-based adjustments, avoiding administrative controls, particularly in foreign exchange and petroleum pricing mechanisms.
Mr Edun reaffirmed that Nigeria would continue to rely on internal policy measures rather than seeking multilateral lending support at this time.
However, he urged faster and more coordinated financial assistance for African countries amid discussions on a proposed $50 billion global support package.
The Minister said Nigeria had built buffers through reforms, but noted that several African nations remained highly exposed and required urgent external financial support.
He said Nigeria’s reliance on market mechanisms had enabled smoother economic adjustments, reduced disruptions, and sustained the country’s macroeconomic trajectory amid global uncertainties.
However, on Monday, the |Minister said Nigeria would seek stronger international financial support at this week’s IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings as the Iran war lifts fuel costs at home and complicates reforms.
He said ahead of the meeting that surging crude prices had some clear benefits for the country, which is Africa’s top oil producer, boosting foreign exchange earnings.
“But the shock comes at a critical transition point, intensifying inflationary pressures and raising living costs for households,” he added.
Economy
NASD Exchange Depreciates 0.29%
By Adedapo Adesanya
The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange fell by 0.29 per cent on Thursday, April 16, after two securities plunged at the close of business, offsetting the gains recorded by three securities.
According to data, the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) went down by 11.11 points to close at 3,862.98 points compared with the previous day’s 3,874.09 points, and the market capitalisation shrank by N6.64 billion to close at N2.311 trillion compared with the previous day’s N2.317 trillion.
Yesterday, FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc declined by N1.36 to trade at N97.64 per share versus Wednesday’s closing price of N99.00 per share, and Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc slipped by N1.16 to sell at N58.00 per unit compared with the preceding day’s N59.16 per unit.
However, NASD Plc appreciated by N1.14 to N38.50 per share from N37.36 per share, UBN Property Plc improved its share price by 20 Kobo to close at N2.18 per unit versus N1.98 per unit, and Lighthouse Financials Plc added 6 Kobo to sell at 72 Kobo per share, in contrast to the 66 Kobo per share it was traded at midweek.
Trading data showed that the value of securities surged by 124.9 per cent to N64.9 million from N28.9 million, the volume of securities increased by 18.4 per cent to 597,775 units from 505,075 units, and the number of deals rose by 2.5 per cent to 41 deals from 40 deals.
At the close of business, Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Plc remained the most traded stock by value on a year-to-date basis with 3.4 billion units valued at N8.4 billion, followed by CSCS Plc with 58.8 million units exchanged for N3.9 billion, and Okitipupa Plc with 27.8 million units traded for N1.9 billion.
GNI Plc was also the most traded stock by volume on a year-to-date basis with 3.4 billion units worth N8.4 billion, trailed by Resourcery Plc with 1.1 billion units sold for N415.7 million, and Infrastructure Guarantee Credit Plc with 400 million units transacted for N1.2 billion.
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