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Economy

Asian Stocks Close Mixed Amid US-Mexico Tariff Stalemate

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By Investors Hub

Asian stocks turned in a mixed performance on Thursday after the U.S. and Mexico failed to reach a deal during their tariff talks on Wednesday.

China’s Shanghai Composite Index ended down 33.62 points or 1.2 percent at 2,827.80 after the International Monetary Fund cut China’s growth forecast for this year and next, citing downside risks and high uncertainty surrounding trade tensions.

The lender lowered the growth forecast for this year to 6.2 percent from the 6.3 percent seen in April. The projection for next year was trimmed to 6 percent from 6.1 percent.

The IMF added it expects China’s growth to gradually slow to 5.5 percent by 2024, as the economy moves towards a more sustainable growth path.

Meanwhile, stocks in Hong Kong showed a modest move to the upside, with the Hang Seng Index rising 69.84 points or 0.3 percent to 26,965.28.

Japanese shares ended roughly flat amid trade uncertainties after the U.S. and Mexico failed to reach a deal on immigration issues. The Nikkei 225 Index fluctuated before finishing marginally lower at 20,774.04. The broader Topix closed 0.3 percent lower at 1,524.91.

Exporters Panasonic, Sony and Honda Motor fell 1-2 percent as the yen hit a five-month high after the release of weak private jobs data from the U.S.

Nissan Motor declined 1.7 percent and Mitsubishi Motors plunged 5.9 percent as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV abruptly withdrew its offer to combine with Renault SA, the alliance partner of the two Japanese firms.

Murata Manufacturing, TDK and Taiyo Yuden lost 3-5 percent amid uncertainties over the global trade environment.

On the other hand, Rakuten soared 4.7 percent after the e-commerce company announced a tie-up with East Japan Railway on cashless services.

Australian stocks gained ground as financials extended gains for a third straight session. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index climbed 24.50 points or 0.4 percent to 6,383.00, while the broader All Ordinaries Index ended up 22.80 points or 0.4 percent at 6,466.40.

The big four banks rose between 0.4 percent and 0.8 percent on expectations the Reserve Bank’s decision to cut its official interest rate to a record low will improve housing affordability.

Bank of Queensland gained 1 percent after appointing George Frazis, outgoing head of consumer banking at Westpac, as its chief executive and managing director.

Santos gained over 1 percent after confirming a major oil and gas resource at its Dorado-2 appraisal well in Western Australia.

Woodside Petroleum, Oil Search and Origin Energy edged lower as U.S. oil prices plunged back into a bear market. Miners BHP, Rio Tinto and Fortescue Metals Group dropped 1-3 percent after copper weakened to a five-month low.

In economic news, Australia’s trade surplus unexpectedly dipped to A$4.87 billion in April from A$4.88 billion in March on higher imports, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed.

Modupe Gbadeyanka is a fast-rising journalist with Business Post Nigeria. Her passion for journalism is amazing. She is willing to learn more with a view to becoming one of the best pen-pushers in Nigeria. Her role models are the duo of CNN's Richard Quest and Christiane Amanpour.

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Economy

NGX RegCo Cautions Investors on Recent Price Movements

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NGX RegCo

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The investing public has been advised to exercise due diligence before trading stocks on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited.

This caution was given by the NGX Regulation Limited (NGX RegCo), the independent regulatory arm of the NGX Group Plc.

The advisory became necessary in response to notable price movements observed in the shares of certain listed companies over recent trading sessions.

On Monday, the bourse suspended trading in the shares of newly-listed Zichis Agro-allied Industries Plc. The company’s stocks gained almost 900 per cent within a month of its listing on Customs Street.

In a statement today, NGX RegCo urged investors to avoid speculative trading based on unverified information and to consult licensed intermediaries such as stockbrokers or investment advisers when needed.

It explained that its advisory is part of its standard market surveillance functions, as it serves as a measured reminder for investors to prioritise informed and disciplined decision-making.

The notice emphasised that the Exchange will continue to monitor market activities closely in line with its mandate to ensure a fair, orderly, and transparent market.

“NGX RegCo encourages all investors to base their decisions on publicly available information, including a thorough assessment of company fundamentals, financial performance, and risk profile,” a part of the disclosure said.

It reassured all stakeholders that the NGX remains stable, well-regulated, and resilient, saying the platform continues to foster an environment where investors can participate with confidence, supported by robust oversight and transparent market operations.

“Our primary responsibility is to maintain a level playing field where market participants can trade with confidence, backed by timely and accurate information.

“This advisory is a routine communication, reinforcing that sound fundamentals, not speculation, remain the foundation for sustainable investment outcomes. We are fully committed to preserving the integrity and stability of our market,” the chief executive of NGX RegCo, Mr Olufemi Shobanjo, stated.

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Economy

Stronger Taxpayer Confidence, Others Should Determine Tax Reform Success—Tegbe

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four tax reform bills

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The chairman of the National Tax Policy Implementation Committee (NTPIC), Mr Joseph Tegbe, has tasked the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) to measure the success of the new tax laws by higher voluntary compliance rates, lower administrative costs, fewer disputes, faster resolution cycles, and stronger taxpayer confidence.

Speaking at the 2026 Leadership Retreat of the agency, Mr Tegbe said, “Sustainable revenue performance is built on trust and efficiency, not enforcement intensity,” emphasising that the legitimacy and predictability of the system are more critical than punitive measures.

He underscored that the country’s tax reform journey is at a critical juncture where effective implementation will determine long-term fiscal outcomes.

The NTPIC chief stressed that tax policy must serve as an enabler of governance, and should embody simplicity, equity, predictability, and administrability at scale.

These principles, he explained, foster voluntary compliance, reduce operational friction, and strengthen investor confidence. He warned that ad-hoc adjustments or policy drift could undermine reform momentum, unsettle businesses, and deter investment, which thrives on predictable rules rather than shifting announcements. Structured sequencing, clear transition mechanisms, and continuous feedback between policymakers and administrators are therefore critical to sustaining reform credibility.

Mr Tegbe further argued that revenue reform cannot succeed in isolation. Achieving sustainable gains requires a whole-of-government approach, leveraging robust taxpayer identification systems, integrated financial data, efficient dispute resolution, and harmonised coordination across federal and sub-national levels. This approach, he said, reduces leakages, eliminates multiple taxation, and reinforces confidence in the system.

He noted that the passage of four new tax laws marks only the beginning of a broader reform agenda, describing the initiative as a systemic recalibration of Nigeria’s fiscal architecture, rather than a routine policy update.

He further asserted that the true measure of success will be the credibility of implementation, not the design of the laws themselves.

The NRS, he noted, functions as the nation’s “Revenue System Integrator,” with outcomes reflecting the strength of an interconnected ecosystem that encompasses policy clarity, enforcement consistency, digital infrastructure, dispute resolution efficiency, and intergovernmental coordination.

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Economy

NUPENG Seeks Clarity on New Oil, Gas Executive Order

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NUPENG

By Adedapo Adesanya

The National Union of Natural and Gas Workers (NUPENG) has expressed deep concern over the Executive Order by President Bola Tinubu mandating the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to remit directly to the federation account.

In a statement signed by its president, Mr William Akporeha, over the weekend in Lagos, the union noted that the absence of detailed public engagement had naturally generated tension within the sector and heightened restiveness among workers, who are anxious to know how the new directive may affect their employment, welfare and job security, especially as it affects NNPC and other major operations in the oil and gas sector.

It pointed out that the industry remained the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, contributing significantly to national revenue, foreign exchange earnings, and employment.

The NUPENG president affirmed that any policy shift, particularly one introduced through an Executive Order, has far-reaching consequences for regulatory frameworks, Investment decisions, operational standards, and labour relations within the sector.

According to him, “there is an urgent need for clarity on the scope and objectives of the Executive Order -What precise reforms or adjustments does it introduce? “Its implications for the Petroleum Industry Act -Does the Order amend, interpret, or expand existing provisions under PIA?

“Impact on workers and existing labour agreements-Will it affect job security, conditions of service, Collective Bargaining agreements or ongoing restructuring processes within the industry? “Effects on indigenous participation and local content development -How will it affect Nigerian companies and employment opportunities for citizens?”

He warned that without proper consultation and explanation, misinterpretations of the Executive Order may spread across the industry, potentially destabilising operations and undermining industrial harmony that stakeholders have worked hard to sustain.

“Though our union remains committed to constructive engagement, national development and stability of the oil and gas sector, however, we are duty-bound and constitutionally bound to protect the rights and welfare and job security of our members whose livelihoods depend on a clear, fair and predictable policy framework,” Mr Akporeha further stated.

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