Economy
Brent Soars as IEA Cuts Demand Forecast on Recession Fears
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Brent crude grade rose by about 2.29 per cent or $2.12 to $94.57 per barrel on Thursday as the International Energy Agency (IEA) cut its oil demand forecast and warned that tight supply would affect the global economy.
Also, the United West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude grade appreciated by 2.1 per cent or $1.84 yesterday to sell for $89.11 per barrel after the IEA cut its oil-demand growth forecasts by 470,000 barrels a day for 2023 to 1.7 million barrels a day. It also lowered its 2022 oil-demand growth forecast by 60,000 barrels a day to 1.9 million barrels per day.
Oil demand growth has steadily fallen throughout the year and is predicted to shrink in the fourth quarter by 340,000 barrels a day, the IEA said.
“With unrelenting inflationary pressures and interest rate hikes taking their toll, higher oil prices may prove the tipping point for a global economy already on the brink of recession,” the IEA said in its monthly market report.
The group buttressed that an oil supply cut from the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies (OPEC+) threatens to deepen a global energy crisis by sending oil prices higher at a time of already elevated inflation and weak economic growth.
Last week’s two million barrel-a-day reduction in the group’s output targets will tighten the oil market further at a moment of extreme vulnerability with few additional sources of supply available to compensate, the Paris-based agency said Thursday.
The cut’s impact will exacerbate a mix of high oil prices and weakening global growth, which would undermine longer-term demand for oil, the IEA said, as it slashed its oil-demand forecasts.
OPEC has said higher oil prices are necessary to spur fresh investments in oil production, but the IEA said constraints among oil producers meant additional supplies would be scant.
The cut also comes ahead of an EU embargo on Russian oil and a plan by the Group of Seven wealthy nations to cap oil prices, both of which analysts warn could further undermine global energy supplies.
Russia has said it would cut production and withhold supplies from nations participating in the price cap mechanism. Meanwhile, time was running out for EU states to find alternative sources of energy to compensate for the still-high levels of oil currently imported from Russia, the IEA said.
Prices also moved higher despite the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reporting a crude oil inventory build of 9.9 million barrels for the week of October 7, but the move lower didn’t last long.
At 439.1 million barrels, US crude oil inventories are 1 per cent below the five-year average for this time of the year. A week earlier, inventories recorded a draw of 1.4 million barrels.
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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