Economy
Corporate Bond Market to Rebound as FGN Securities Yields Drop
The economic and financial market developments in the last few months in Nigeria point to a possible rebound of activities in the Corporate Bond Market (CBM) very soon.
The CBM had experienced a lull in activities in the last few years because of unfavourable economic and market conditions.
The recent events in Nigeria are changing the unfavourable conditions that have limited the growth of the CBM.
The recent drop in the yields on the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) securities, particularly the Nigerian Treasury Bills (NTB), creates an opportunity for the growth of activities in the CBM.
The improvement in the macroeconomic environment in Nigeria and the strategy of the Debt Management Office (DMO) to restructure the debt portfolio of the FGN were primary drivers of the drop in yield.
The need to curb the high inflation rate and maintain foreign exchange stability was responsible for the high NTB yields.
Consequently, there was a lull in activities in the CBM as companies could not compete with the high yields on the 364-day NTB.
Accordingly, most companies opted for Commercial Papers (CP) to raise short-term funds as bridge finance. The average yield on the 364-day NTB between January 2017 and November 2017 stood at 22.16% with the highest yield of 23.41% recorded in 19 April 2017. The high yields crowded out the corporate borrowers from the debt market.
According to data from FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange as at November 1, 2017, only two corporate bonds have so far been issued in 2017.
The two Corporate Bonds are: 17 percent Mixta Real Estate Plc January 2022 Bond and 18.25 percent Dufil September 2022 Bond.
In another development, a review of the latest Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) report that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) published for the month of October 2017 shows that economic activities in the manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors expanded further.
A PMI below the 50 points’ level suggests a decline in business activity while a PMI higher than the 50 points level suggests an expansion. When the PMI is at the 50 points’ level, it means that the degree of business activity in the economy is unchanged.
The Composite Manufacturing Index (CMI) expanded for the seventh consecutive month to stand at 55.0 points.
The Composite Non-Manufacturing Index (CNMI) also expanded for the sixth consecutive month to 55.3 points in October 2017 from 54.9 points in September 2017.
The increase in the PMI is also an indication of expected business expansion in the short-to-medium term which will require more financing.
The consensus forecasts for the Nigerian economy are that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will continue to grow. Although the GDP growth rates of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for Nigeria from 2017 to 2020 are conservative, they are in the positive region.
Both FSDH Research and the Budget Office of the Federation believe the growth rates in the economy between 2017 and 2020 will remain strong, ranging from 2 percent to 7 percent. This means that more business investments will be undertaken.
Our analysis of the data released by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on the Nigerian GDP (Expenditure and Income Approach) as at Q4, 2016 shows that consumption expenditure of households in Nigeria rose in 2016 compared with 2015.
The total consumption expenditure of households rose by 11.87 percent from N74.41trn in 2015 to N83.25trn in 2016.
FSDH Research expects the households’ consumption expenditure to continue to rise as the outlook for the Nigerian economy remains positive and consumer sentiments improve. The growth in the households’ consumption will also drive investments from firms to meet the growing demand.
FSDH Research believes that the capital requirement for these investments will exceed what companies can generate from internal cash flow. These companies will need external funding and with the expected drop in yields, corporate bond will be an attractive source of raising non-permanent long-term capital to meet the investment needs of firms.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is seeking a reduction in import duty exemptions, which rose to N34 trillion, limiting its ability to increase its revenue generation threshold.
The Comptroller-General of the Customs Service, Mr Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed that the value of import duty exemption certificate approvals increased to that level in 2025, describing the policy as one of the major factors restricting its revenue generation.
At an investigative session of the Senate Committee on Finance with revenue-generating agencies in Abuja on Monday, Mr Adeniyi explained that government fiscal policies have continued to impact the revenue-generating capacity of the Customs Service, both positively and negatively.
“The NCS would have generated significantly higher revenue over the years if not for government-approved import duty waivers and other external factors affecting collections,” he said.
He added that the Import Duty Exemption Certificate scheme, introduced in March 2020, accounted for about N34 trillion in approvals in 2025, with nearly 60 per cent covering duty-free importation of military hardware due to Nigeria’s prevailing security challenges.
Other government-backed duty waivers, he noted, covered the importation of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), electric and hybrid vehicles, healthcare equipment and medical supplies, industrial machinery and manufacturing inputs, as well as food import intervention programmes.
While acknowledging the impact of the waivers on Customs revenue, Mr Adeniyi argued that fiscal policy should not be assessed solely on the basis of revenue generation but also on its broader economic and social objectives.
He, however, urged the federal government to establish stronger monitoring mechanisms to ensure beneficiaries of duty waivers deliver the intended economic outcomes, including lower consumer prices, increased local production and improved healthcare access.
The committee also expressed displeasure over the absence of several heads of government agencies invited to the hearing, including the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Industrial Training Fund (ITF), and the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Mr Sani Musa, warned that the affected chief executives must appear at the committee’s next sitting or face severe sanctions under the Senate’s rules.
In the competitive world of online trading, finding a trading brokerage partner that balances reliability, technological innovation, and accessible conditions is essential. Headway broker has emerged as a significant player, currently serving over 4 million users globally.
In this article, we take a detailed look at what makes this broker for trading a notable option for both novice and experienced traders.
Headway Regulatory Foundation and Safety
Safety is the cornerstone of any trading relationship. Headway broker operates under the regulation and licensing of the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA). This regulatory oversight ensures that the broker adheres to strictly defined standards for transparency and operational conduct, providing traders with an added layer of security and confidence when managing their portfolios.
Trading Platforms and Instruments
Efficiency in trading Forex and other markets is driven by the tools at your disposal. Headway provides a robust technological trading ecosystem:
Industry-Standard Platforms: The broker fully supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), the most widely used platforms for technical analysis and automated trading.
Proprietary Mobile App: For traders who prioritize mobility, Headway offers its own custom-built trading app. It is readily available for download on both Google Play and the App Store, allowing for seamless account management and trading on the go.
Diverse Market Access: Traders have a wide range of opportunities with access to over 300 trading instruments, ensuring plenty of choice for different strategies and asset classes.
Trading Account Types Offered by Headway
Headway broker understands that every trader enters the market with a different level of experience:
Three Account Tiers: To ensure inclusivity, the broker offers three distinct types of accounts (Cent, Standard and Pro), tailored to suit different levels of expertise and capital requirements.
Demo Account: For those looking to refine their skills without financial risk, Headway provides a comprehensive demo trading account. This is the perfect environment to practice strategies, understand how the platform works, and gain confidence before transitioning to live trading.
Customer Support and Incentives
Headway supports its user base with comprehensive resources and financial incentives:
24/7 Technical Support: Market fluctuations happen at any time. Headway provides round-the-clock technical support for the traders, ensuring that help is always available whenever a question or issue arises.
150$ No Deposit Bonus: To help new traders get started, Headway offers a $150 no deposit bonus. This is an excellent way to test the broker’s execution speed and trading environment with zero initial risk.
IB Partnership Program: Beyond individual trading, Headway fosters growth through its Introducing Broker (IB) partnership program. This allows partners to build their business and earn commissions by referring new traders to the platform.
Conclusion
With its combination of FSCA regulation, a vast range of instruments, and modern platforms like MT4, MT5, and its own proprietary app, Headway FX broker provides a comprehensive environment for modern traders. Whether you are using the demo account to hone your skills or taking advantage of the 150 no deposit welcome bonus, this broker offers the stability and tools needed for your trading journey.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange rose by 0.40 per cent on Monday, July 13, buoyed by buying interest in 11 Plc, Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc and UBN Property Plc, which offset the profit-taking in Food Concepts Plc, the parent company of Chicken Republic.
11 Plc gained N20.69 to end at N227.64 per share compared with last Friday’s price of N206.95 per share, CSCS Plc grew by N1.83 to N91.48 per unit from N89.65 per unit, and UBN Property Plc added 1 Kobo to sell at N1.81 per share versus N1.80 per share.
On the flip side, Food Concepts Plc depreciated by 24 Kobo to close at N2.45 per unit, in contrast to the preceding session’s N2.69 per unit.
As a result, the market capitalisation increased by N9.2 billion to N2.587 trillion from N2.578 trillion, and the NASD Security Index (NSI) improved by 15.33 points to 4,311.67 points from 4,296.34 points.
Yesterday, the volume of securities traded by investors surged by 615.9 per cent to 9.1 million units from the previous 1.3 million units, and the value of securities rose by 997.1 per cent to N320.4 million from the preceding session’s N29.2 million, while the number of deals decreased by 12.5 per cent to 28 deals from last Friday’s 32 deals.
At the close of trades, Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Plc remained the most active stock by value on a year-to-date basis, with 3.4 billion units valued at N8.4 billion, followed by Infrastructure Credit Guarantee (Infracredit) Plc with 2.3 billion units worth N6.5 billion, and CSCS Plc with 73.9 million units exchanged for N5.2 billion.
GNI Plc also closed the session as the most traded stock by volume on a year-to-date basis, with 3.4 billion units sold for N8.4 billion, followed by Infracredit Plc with 2.3 billion units traded for N6.5 billion, and Resourcery Plc with 1.1 billion units transacted for N415.7 million.
