Economy
Asian Stocks Close Mixed as China GDP Growth Slows to 6.2%
By Investors Hub
Asian stocks ended mixed on Monday after official data showed Chinese GDP growth slowed to 6.2 percent in the second quarter from a year earlier, its weakest pace in at least 27 years amid a prolonged trade war with the United States. The Japanese markets were closed for the Marine Day holiday.
Chinese factory output and retail sales figures offered signs of improvement, helping limit the downside across the region.
Annual industrial production growth advanced more than expected to 6.3 percent in June from 5 percent in May, showing the fastest growth in three months.
Likewise, retail sales grew at a faster pace of 9.8 percent after rising 8.6 percent a month ago. Economists had forecast an 8.5 percent increase for June.
Year-to-date fixed asset investment increased 5.8 percent compared to the 5.6 percent expansion in the January to May period, while property investment logged double-digit growth of 10.9 percent during the January to June period.
China’s Shanghai Composite Index gained 11.64 points or 0.4 percent to finish at 2,942.19 after reports the U.S. may start approving licenses to certain companies to start selling specific Huawei products in the next two or three weeks. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 83.26 points or 0.3 percent to 28,554.88.
Meanwhile, Australian markets ended off their day’s lows on expectations that Beijing will continue to roll out more support measures in coming months.
The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index ended down 43.50 points or 0.7 percent at 6,653, while the broader All Ordinaries Index dropped 42.60 points or 0.6 percent to 6,746.20.
Financials fell, with the big four banks ending down between half a percent and 1 percent. Wealth manager AMP slumped 15.8 percent after scrapping its interim dividend and saying the $3.3 billion sale of its life insurance arm to a foreign buyer was unlikely to proceed.
Mining giant Rio Tinto rose 0.4 percent and smaller rival Fortescue Metals Group advanced 0.7 percent after iron ore prices clocked their best week in three on supply concerns.
Seoul stocks fell after the release of the mixed Chinese data and uncertainties over a trade dispute with Japan. The benchmark Kospi dipped 4.18 points or 0.2 percent to 2,082.48, snapping a three-day winning streak.
Automaker Hyundai Motor fell 1.1 percent and Samsung BioLogics, a biopharmaceutical affiliate of Samsung Group, shed 1.7 percent, while chipmaker SK Hynix rallied 2 percent.
Economy
FG Releases Transition Guidelines for Tax Acts 2025
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The transition guidelines on the Tax Acts 2025 to provide direction to taxpayers, tax practitioners, revenue authorities and other stakeholders on how to address various issues arising from the old regime to the new framework have been released by the federal government.
The framework was issued on Thursday via a statement signed by the Director of Press Relations in the Federal Ministry of Finance, Efe Ovuakporie.
The guidelines set out the process for transition from the repealed tax laws to the new tax framework effective January 1, 2026.
Under the guidelines, the Tax Acts 2025, comprising the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, the Nigeria Tax Act, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act, apply from the respective commencement dates as enacted in each law. In particular, January 1, 2026, for the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025.
Tax liabilities, assessments, audits, investigations, disputes and enforcement actions relating to periods before that date will be treated under the repealed tax laws, the notice stated.
Tax returns relating to accounting periods ending before January 1, 2026, will be filed under the previous tax laws, while returns relating to accounting periods ending from January 1, 2026, onward will be administered under the new tax framework.
The document also covers the treatment of income taxes, transaction taxes, development levies, tax incentives, exemptions, record-keeping obligations and transactions that span both the old and new tax regimes.
Existing tax incentives and exemptions granted under the repealed laws will remain in place until their expiration dates. New applications and pending requests, however, will be considered under the provisions of the Tax Acts 2025.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, described the Tax Acts 2025 as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s tax reform programme, noting that the Guidelines set out how existing obligations, ongoing matters and future transactions will be treated under the new regime.
According to the Minister, the guidelines are anchored on three key principles – clarity, fairness and administrative certainty, adding that they are intended to promote uniform implementation and support effective administration across the Nigeria Revenue Service, State Internal Revenue Services, the FCT Internal Revenue Service, Local Government Revenue Committees, tax practitioners and taxpayers nationwide.
Economy
Federal, State, LG Councils Share N2.3trn FAAC Allocation
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has shared a total of N2.300 trillion among the federal government, state governments, and Local Government Councils from the revenue generated in May 2026.
The amount is slightly higher than the N2.257 trillion distributed last month, according to a statement issued by the Head of Information at the Federal Ministry of Finance, Mrs Efe Ovuakporie.
The FAAC allocation was confirmed at its June 2026 meeting following consideration of revenue receipts for the month of May.
The total distributable revenue of N2.300 trillion comprised N1.611 trillion from statutory revenue and N688.785 billion from Value Added Tax (VAT).
From the distributable amount, the federal government received N818.680 billion, while state governments got N759.141 billion. Local Government Councils were given N534.277 billion, and oil-producing states received N188.132 billion as 13 per cent derivation revenue.
The gross statutory revenue for the month stood at N2.652 trillion, representing an increase of N273.623 billion compared to the N2.378 trillion recorded in April 2026.
FAAC reported significant increases in collections from Companies Income Tax (CIT), Capital Gains Tax (CGT), Stamp Duties, Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), Hydrocarbon Tax (HT), and oil royalties during the period under review.
However, collections from Import Duty, Value Added Tax (VAT), Excise Duty, and Common External Tariff (CET) levies recorded declines compared to the previous month.
Gross VAT revenue for May 2026 stood at N743.668 billion, lower than the N806.617 billion collected in April 2026.
The committee noted that despite the decline in VAT collections, overall revenue performance for the month was strengthened by improved receipts from petroleum-related taxes and Companies Income Tax.
Economy
NGX Suspends Trading in Fortis Global Insurance Equities
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Trading in the equities of Fortis Global Insurance Plc on the floor of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited has been suspended.
The action was taken on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, by the regulatory subsidiary of the NGX Group Plc, NGX Regulation (NGX RegCo) Limited.
It was to prevent investors from buying and selling the company’s securities on the stock market ahead of its share reconstruction.
According to a circular signed by the Head of Issuer Regulation Department of NGX RegCo, Mr Godstime Iwenekhai, the suspension is also to determine the shareholders who are entitled to receive the reconstructed shares.
“Trading license holders and the investing public are hereby notified that trading in the shares of Fortis Global Insurance Plc was suspended on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
“The suspension is necessary to prevent trading in the shares of Fortis Global Insurance Plc to enable the Company’s Registrars and the Central Securities Clearing System Plc (CSCS) to reconcile their books for the listing of the reconstructed shares on Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX).
“The suspension is also required for the purpose of determining the shareholders who are entitled to receive the reconstructed shares,” the notice stated.
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