Economy
Business Activity Falls First Time in Eight Months
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Stanbic IBTC Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for July 2024 has indicated that the Nigerian private sector moved back into contraction territory.
A statement from the lender disclosed that the index of the performance of the business environment closed at 49.2 points compared with 50.1 points recorded in June as steep price pressures hit demand and resulted in renewed reductions in both business activity and new orders.
Business Post reports that readings above 50.0 signal an improvement in business conditions in the previous month, while readings below 50.0 show deterioration, which occurred in the period under review, the first in eight months.
Input costs and selling prices continued to rise rapidly, although there were some signs that efforts to secure sales resulted in a softer pace of output price inflation.
The renewed worsening in the health of the private sector mainly reflected the first reductions in output and new orders since November last year. In both cases, rates of decline were only modest.
Anecdotal evidence continued to highlight the negative impact of sharp price increases on customer demand, with clients often unwilling or unable to commit to new projects.
Three of the four broad sectors covered by the report saw business activity decrease in July, the exception being manufacturing where production increased.
Selling prices continued to increase sharply at the start of the third quarter as companies passed higher input costs through to their customers. This was despite the rate of inflation easing to the slowest since May 2023 amid reports from some panellists that they had lowered charges as part of efforts to secure sales.
The Head of Equity Research for West Africa at Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr Muyiwa Oni, said, “The Stanbic IBTC headline PMI declined for the second consecutive month to 49.2 points in July – its lowest level since November 2023.
“Anecdotal evidence continued to highlight the negative impact of sharp price increases on customer demand, resulting in renewed reductions in both business activity and new orders.
“Notably, output and new orders printed below 50.0 thereby ending a seven-month sequence of expansion and reinforcing a renewed worsening in the health of the private sector.
“Even as output and new orders declined, companies continued to expand their staffing levels during the month. Moreover, the rate of job creation picked up to the strongest in 2024 so far.
“Meanwhile, overall input prices continued to rise sharply in July with the rate of inflation quickening for the third month running and were the fastest since March.
“Although output prices continued to rise rapidly during July, the pace of inflation eased from that seen in June and was the slowest since May 2023. Where selling prices increased, panellists linked this to higher input costs.
“On the other hand, some companies lowered charges as part of efforts to attract customers. That said, companies remained confident overall that output will increase over the next 12 months, reflecting business expansion plans including efforts to start exporting and open more branches.
“On a year-on-year basis, headline inflation may have peaked in June, with moderation expected in H2:24 as the year-on-year effects of PMS subsidy removal (which induced higher fuel prices) and significant currency depreciation (which accompanied the FX unification) fade.
“This, in addition to the commencement of the primary harvest season in September, is likely to provide some respite for consumers, thereby likely supporting a slight improvement in domestic economic activities in H2:24.”
Further increases in purchase prices and staff costs were registered in July. Purchase price inflation quickened to a four-month high, often due to currency weakness but also higher raw material costs.
Meanwhile, the rise in employee expenses was broadly in line with that seen in June as companies continued to help workers with higher living costs, particularly those related to transportation.
The renewed decline in output was accompanied by a reduction in business confidence, with firms at their least optimistic since the survey began. That said, business expansion plans meant that firms still expected output to rise over the coming year.
Companies scaled back purchasing activity, with reduced demand for inputs and prompt payments helping lead to a further shortening of suppliers’ delivery times.
Meanwhile, stocks of inputs increased. Employment also continued to rise slightly, with the pace of job creation quickening to the fastest in 2024 so far. Higher staffing levels and a drop in new orders meant that backlogs of work were cleared for the second consecutive month.
Money sitting in limbo doesn’t do anyone any good. That’s the simple truth driving South Africa’s big change toward faster digital payment systems. When funds take days to clear, people can’t spend them, businesses can’t reinvest them, and the whole economy slows down while everyone waits.
Because of this, payment speed has become one of the most important factors in how South Africans choose which platforms to trust with their money.
The reality is, South Africa sits at an interesting crossroads. Better financial infrastructure than most African countries, yet millions of people still don’t have decent access to traditional banking. That creates tension and opportunity simultaneously.
And this is why digital payments are changing faster than predictions suggested. When someone can receive money in minutes instead of days, everything changes. They spend sooner. They save smarter. And they actually trust the platforms handling their cash.
Why Payment Speed Matters So Much
Here’s the thing about payout speed. It signals reliability in ways that marketing never can. When a platform pays you fast, you believe it actually has money and knows what it’s doing. Slow payouts make people nervous. They start wondering if something went wrong or if the company is struggling financially.
This pattern shows up everywhere you look. Retail e-commerce sites have figured out that processing refunds quickly reduces complaints and keeps customers coming back. Mobile money services compete hard on transaction speed. The online gaming sector has caught on, and especially online casinos that rely heavily on trust.
The fastest payout casinos in South Africa have built strong user bases specifically because they process withdrawals fast, rather than making people wait around for days. When real money is on the line, nobody wants to wait.
Mobile Payments Changed Everything
Mobile payments in South Africa have absolutely exploded over the last few years. Statista reckons the digital payments market will keep growing substantially through 2028. Smartphones have basically become the bank for millions of South Africans who used to deal entirely in cash or stash money with informal savings groups.
This shift is way bigger than most people realise. Mobile platforms process transactions almost instantly. Traditional banks often made people wait for things to clear. Mobile money cuts through most of that.
Someone selling vegetables at a street market can get paid, confirm the money arrived, and use those funds for their next purchase within minutes. That kind of speed keeps money circulating and stimulates activity at the ground level.
Fintech Companies Are Pushing Hard
South African fintech startups have figured out that speed wins customers. Digital lending platforms now disburse loans within hours of approval. Gig economy payment systems have moved toward instant payouts for drivers and delivery workers who genuinely cannot afford to wait until the end of the month.
Every sector that touches consumer finance has felt the pressure to get faster.
This competition works out well for regular users. When platforms have to compete on speed, they invest in better technology. They streamline their verification processes. They partner with payment processors that can actually move money quickly.
The result is an environment where slow payouts increasingly signal that something is outdated or unreliable.
Government Benefits and Remittances
The South African government has been testing faster ways to get social grants and benefits to people. The fact is, digital payment infrastructure has made public fund distribution way more efficient across several African countries.
When grants hit accounts instantly instead of making people physically collect them, recipients save time, and honestly, they’re safer too.
Cross-border remittances are another area where speed makes a huge difference. South Africa has loads of migrant workers who send money home to their families regularly. Traditional remittance channels used to take days and hit you with hefty fees.
Digital alternatives now offer same-day transfers at much lower costs. That efficiency means more money actually reaches the families who need it instead of getting eaten up by fees and delays.
The Psychology Behind Quick Payments
There’s something deeper going on with fast payouts beyond just convenience. Speed builds trust in ways people don’t always consciously recognise. When you get paid quickly, you feel confident that the platform is legitimate and financially stable.
Delays create doubt. You start questioning whether something went wrong or whether the company might be in trouble.
This trust compounds over time. Users who experience fast, reliable payouts become loyal customers. They recommend platforms to their friends. They deposit larger amounts because they know withdrawing won’t be a nightmare.
Platforms that master payout speed build user bases that competitors find very hard to steal.
What Happens Next
The direction seems pretty clear. Payment speed across all sectors of South Africa’s digital economy will keep getting faster. Infrastructure investments from fintech companies and government institutions should reduce friction even more.
As more South Africans get smartphones and access to mobile banking, demand for instant transactions will only grow.
The platforms that succeed will be the ones treating payout speed as essential rather than optional. Whether they’re processing e-commerce refunds, gig worker payments, or gaming withdrawals, the operators that move money fastest will capture the market. South Africa is proving that speed is how users measure whether a platform deserves their trust.
The crypto market is no longer being dictated by speculation and trends of trading in the short run. With the evolution of digital assets, investors demand more structured, data-driven and technology-supported strategies that are more stable, transparent, and have long-term potential. With all these changes, platforms with built-in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and high-end hashing infrastructure are altering the way crypto participation operates.
SJMine is at the heart of this change. Created to empower the modern investors, SJMine offers an up-to-date and polished crypto-investing experience of automation, smart analytics, and adaptable investment design to enable users to strategically engage in the digital economy.
A New Standard for Strategic Crypto Participation
The investors of today require a higher level of access to digital assets than just a basic one. They desire systems that are capable of responding to market signals, adapting the conditions of the network, and functioning on a large scale. To satisfy this need, SJMine implements AI-based market intelligence within its operations.
The platform dynamically manages the allocation of hashing and computing performance by the use of continuous data analysis. This smart automation provides freedom to the users to control hardware, technical measurements, or manually react to market changes. Rather, the investors have access to a professionally managed environment whereby technology labors tirelessly behind the scenes to bring about consistency and efficiency.
How SJMine Redefines Investor Experience
SJMine is a building that is planned to be very accessible and sophisticated. The platform eliminates any technical obstacles in tradition and supports infrastructure at an enterprise level. The cloud computing system allows it to perform smoothly and its AI-based systems would make sure that the resources are used optimally at any given time.
Key strengths of the SJMine ecosystem include:
- AI-Driven Optimization: Intelligent algorithms analyze performance data and adjust operations dynamically.
- High-Performance Hashing Systems: Advanced infrastructure supports efficient blockchain participation.
- User-Friendly Interface: A clean, intuitive dashboard provides real-time insights into earnings and contract status.
- Sustainability Focus: Optimized energy usage and modern data centers support responsible long-term operations.
- Transparent Returns: Clearly defined contract terms with visible daily earnings.
This mixture is what renders SJMine appropriate to simple new investors as well as sophisticated investors who want efficiency and scalability.
Flexible Contracts Built for Diverse Investment Goals
SJMine has diverse flexible contracts that can be used to meet various budgets and investment schedule. Long-term strategic decisions or short-term plans are well developed with simple and predictable results.
Below is an overview of the flexible contract plans available on SJMine:
| Contract Amount | Contract Duration | Daily Earnings | Total Income (Principal + Profit) |
| $15 | 1 Day | $0.60 | $15 + $0.60 |
| $100 | 2 Days | $4.00 | $100 + $8.00 |
| $600 | 6 Days | $7.68 | $600 + $46.08 |
| $1,200 | 10 Days | $16.32 | $1,200 + $163.20 |
| $3,200 | 22 Days | $45.44 | $3,200 + $999.68 |
| $9,000 | 30 Days | $147.60 | $9,000 + $4,428.00 |
For the most accurate and up-to-date contract information, investors are encouraged to refer directly to the official SJMine website: http://sjmine.com.
Getting Started: Simple Registration with a Welcome Bonus
SJMine puts a lot of emphasis on ease of access, and the process of onboarding is quick and simple. It can take a few minutes before new users start getting acquainted with the platform.
How to register on SJMine:
- Visit the official website at http://sjmine.com
- Click on Register and create your account by entering basic details
- Complete the verification process and log in to your dashboard
- Register now and receive a $15 welcome bonus, allowing you to experience the platform with minimal initial risk
- Select a contract that matches your investment strategy and activate it
AI-Powered Market Intelligence: The Core Advantage
SJMine is a unique company with its AI-based market intelligence that is constantly analyzing the performance of the blockchain and the conditions of the network. This dynamic flexibility leads to better utilization of resources, minimization of inefficiencies, and a more intelligent, and sturdier approach to investing in the crypto market of the current era that is rapidly changing.
Conclusion
SJMine is a new view of strategic crypto investment in a world where intelligent automation is the new competitive advantage. The platform provides a modern and visionary solution to the current investors by integrating AI-related analytics, cloud computing infrastructure, flexible contract choice, and user-friendly design.
SJMine is an attractive proposal to invest in with confidence in the new technology-driven approach provided that investors are willing to abandon the old paradigm and shift to a smarter approach to crypto economy investment.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange fell by 0.39 per cent on Monday, January 12, after it closed higher in every trading day of last week.
The loss recorded yesterday took out N8.5 billion from the unlisted securities market, closing at N2.184 compared with the preceding session’s closing value of N2.193 trillion.
In the same vein, the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) went down by 14.2 points during the session to 3,651.48 points from the 3,665.68 points it finished last Friday.
The decline was influenced by three securities, with Afriland Properties Plc down by N1.55 to end at N14.75 per unit compared with the previous N16.30 per unit, and NASD Plc declining by N1.00 to N59.00 per share from N6.00 pr share, as Food Concepts Plc slid by 34 Kobo to finish at N3.06 per unit versus N3.40 per unit.
On the flip side, three securities gained weight, with FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc appreciating by N6.23 to N68.70 per share from N62.47 per share, Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc added 45 Kobo to close at N43.07 per unit versus N42.62 per unit, and Geo-Fluids Plc gained 2 Kobo to settle at N6.84 per share versus N6.82 per share.
During the session, the trading volume soared by 826 per cent to 4.03 million units from 434,845 units, the trading value skyrocketed by 579.1 per cent to N46.8 million from N6.9 million, and the number of deals jumped by 118.2 per cent to 48 deals from 22 deals.
When trading activities closed for the day, CSCS Plc remained the most active stock by value on a year-to-date basis with 1.5 million units exchanged for N57.6 million, followed by Geo-Fluids Plc with 6.4 million units valued at N43.3 million, and FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc with 379,749 units worth N24.4 million.
In terms of volume, Geo-Fluids Plc led with 6.4 million units sold for N43.3 million, trailed by Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) Plc with 2.9 million units traded for N1.9 million, and CSCS Plc with 1.5 million units valued at N57.6 million.
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