Economy
Choppy Trading on Wall Street Amid Mixed Economic, Geopolitical News
By Investors Hub
The major U.S. index futures are currently pointing to a roughly flat opening on Thursday, with stocks likely to continue to experience choppy trading.
Traders may be reluctant to make significant moves as they weigh better than expected U.S. economic data against disappointing news out of the summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
The futures recovered from earlier weakness following the release of a report from the Commerce Department showing U.S. economic growth slowed by less than expected in the fourth quarter of 2018.
Meanwhile, traders are also digesting news that the Trump-Kim summit ended abruptly without an agreement on the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.
Trump told reporters the North Korean dictator wanted the U.S. to lift all sanctions without having to give up all of his weapons of mass destruction.
?Basically, they wanted the sanctions lifted in their entirety and we couldn’t do that,? Trump said. ?They were willing to de-nuke a large portion of the areas that we wanted, but we couldn’t give up all of the sanctions for that.?
?So we continue to work and we’ll see, but we had to walk away from that particular suggestion,? he added. ?We had to walk away from that.?
The president noted that the two sides will continue to work toward an agreement, although the lack of a deal at the summit may add to recent uncertainty on Wall Street.
Stocks once again recovered from an early move to the downside on Wednesday but showed a lack of direction over the remainder of the session.
The major averages spent the afternoon lingering near the unchanged line before closing mixed. While the Nasdaq inched up 5.21 points or 0.1 percent to 7,554.51, the Dow fell 72.82 points or 0.3 percent to 25,985.16 and the S&P 500 edged down 1.52 points or 0.1 percent to 2,792.38.
The early weakness on Wall Street came as comments from U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer partly offset recent optimism about the U.S.-China trade talks.
Lighthizer, who is described as “hawkish” on trade, told members of the House Ways and Means Committee that China needs to go beyond pledging to buy more U.S. goods to reach to a long-term trade agreement.
“We can compete with anyone in the world, but we must have rule, enforced rules, that make sure market outcomes and not state capitalism and technology theft determine winners,” Lighthizer said.
The reaction to Lighthizer’s remarks reflected the lingering uncertainty about a potential U.S.-China trade deal even after President Donald Trump decided to postpone an increase in tariffs on Chinese imports.
Selling pressure waned as the day progressed, however, as traders kept an eye on Trump’s second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, looking for more concrete signs of progress toward the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.
“Kim Jong Un and I will try very hard to work something out on Denuclearization & then making North Korea an Economic Powerhouse,” Trump said on Twitter this morning. “I believe that China, Russia, Japan & South Korea will be very helpful!”
On the U.S. economic front, the National Association of Realtors released a report showing pending home sales rebounded by much more than anticipated in the month of January.
NAR said its pending home sales index spiked by 4.6 percent to 103.2 in January after tumbling by 2.3 percent to a downwardly revised 98.7 in December. Economists had expected pending home sales to rise by 0.4 percent.
A pending home sale is one in which a contract was signed but not yet closed. Normally, it takes four to six weeks to close a contracted sale.
Meanwhile, a government shutdown-delayed report released by the Commerce Department showed new orders for manufactured goods rose by much less than anticipated in the month of December.
The Commerce Department said factory orders inched up by 0.1 percent in December after falling by a revised 0.5 percent in November. Economists had expected orders to climb by 0.5 percent.
Most of the major sectors ended the day showing only modest moves, contributing to the lackluster performance by the broader markets.
Gold stocks showed a significant move to the downside, however, with the NYSE Arca Gold Bugs Index plunging by 1.9 percent. The weakness among gold stocks came amid a decrease by the price of the precious metal.
Considerable weakness was also visible among semiconductor stocks, as reflected by the 1.2 percent drop by the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index.
On the other hand,
biotechnology stocks moved sharply higher over the course of the
session, driving the NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index up by 2.4 percent.
The index jumped to its best closing level in over four months.
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.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Lagos State is currently agog because of the high-profile guests in the city for the Invest in Lagos Summit 3.0 commencing today, Monday, June 8, 2026.
The programme, which ends tomorrow, is themed Lagos: Business Gateway to Africa. It will feature a line-up of sessions focused on Lagos as Africa’s Global Gateway, the Future of Technology and Innovation, Unlocking Investment, Building the Cities of the Future, Global Partnerships for Growth, Talent, Creativity and Culture, and Energy and Sustainability.
The event is being put together by the Lagos State government and Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC).
The venue of the summit, Eko Hotel and Suites, is already lively, with the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu; the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele; the co-chair of the Lagos Finance and Investment Council (LFIC), Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede; and the chief executive of Moniepoint Incorporated, Mr Tosin Eniolorunda, amongst others expected to speak.
The workshop is designed to position Lagos as Africa’s premier destination for investment, trade, innovation, infrastructure development, and economic partnerships.
It is focused on unlocking investment opportunities and accelerating sustainable economic growth. It will bring together high-level participants from across the public and private sectors to explore opportunities in technology, infrastructure, energy, manufacturing, finance, creative industries, and urban development.
According to the Lagos Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, the programme has been carefully structured to move beyond conversations and focus on actionable outcomes that can stimulate investment inflows into Lagos State.
He said the conference will provide a platform to showcase the state’s investments in transportation, technology, energy, manufacturing, tourism, and urban development, while also highlighting opportunities for local and international investors.
“Invest in Lagos 3.0 is more than a conference; it is a strategic platform designed to connect investors with opportunities, facilitate meaningful partnerships, and showcase Lagos as Africa’s most attractive investment destination.
“Through this summit, we are bringing together government leaders, global investors, development institutions, and business executives to explore opportunities that will unlock growth, create jobs, and accelerate economic development across Lagos and Nigeria,” the Commissioner, who doubles as the Head of the Media Subcommittee, stated.
The gathering will also feature investment pitches by governors, exhibitions by participating organisations, networking opportunities, a gala dinner, and site visits to major infrastructure and industrial projects, including the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Lagos Free Zone, Lagos Port, and RusselSmith’s advanced manufacturing facility.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has expressed readiness to leverage the €59 million West Africa Sustainable Ocean Programme (WASOP) as part of intensified efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing while strengthening sustainable management of its marine resources.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, made this known in Abuja during a meeting with the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Gautier Mignot, where both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation on maritime security and sustainable ocean governance.
Welcoming the EU Ambassador, Mr Oyetola commended the group for its longstanding partnership with Nigeria, particularly its support for maritime stability in the Gulf of Guinea, a region critical to global shipping and regional economic development.
He noted that the West Africa Sustainable Ocean Programme (WASOP) presents a timely opportunity to strengthen coordinated action against illegal fishing, improve ocean governance, and promote sustainable exploitation of marine resources across West Africa.
He said Nigeria is keen to fully engage with the programme to attract technical and financial support that will enhance enforcement capacity and boost the country’s blue economy ambitions.
The Minister stressed that illegal fishing remains a major threat to the marine ecosystem and coastal livelihoods, warning that IUU fishing continues to deplete fish stocks, undermine food security, and erode the economic well-being of coastal communities.
He said: “Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing is a direct threat to national security, food sovereignty, and the survival of our coastal communities. We cannot afford to stand by and watch our marine ecosystems be depleted and economic livelihoods eroded.
“We are calling for an era of stronger international collaboration, backed by aggressive monitoring and uncompromised enforcement systems, to permanently dismantle these illicit operations and safeguard our waters.”
Mr Oyetola also highlighted ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s maritime sector under the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy, which prioritises innovation, private sector investment, and sustainable development of ocean resources.
He referenced key milestones in the sector, including improvements in port operations and logistics, as well as enhanced maritime security.
He further noted that Nigeria is strengthening initiatives aimed at expanding its maritime infrastructure and improving competitiveness in global trade.
The Minister also reiterated the need for broader cooperation beyond piracy control, urging development partners to support Nigeria in addressing environmental crimes, human trafficking, and illegal fishing in a more integrated and coordinated manner.
He sought increased technical assistance from the European Union, particularly in surveillance systems, fisheries monitoring, and enforcement capacity to strengthen Nigeria’s ability to curb IUU fishing across the Gulf of Guinea.
On his part, Mr Mignot reaffirmed the European Union’s commitment to strengthening maritime cooperation with Nigeria and supporting regional efforts to ensure safer and more sustainable oceans.
He highlighted the West Africa Sustainable Ocean Programme (WASOP), a major EU-funded initiative designed to promote integrated ocean governance, sustainable fisheries management, and protection of coastal and marine ecosystems across West African countries.
According to him, the programme will support improved coordination among coastal states, strengthen enforcement mechanisms, and promote a more inclusive and sustainable blue economy in the region.
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