Economy
Crude Oil Rebounds 4% Amid Supply Fears

By Adedapo Adesanya
Crude oil prices rebounded by more than 4 per cent on Friday on concerns that it could take weeks to dislodge a giant container ship blocking the Suez Canal, possibly squeezing supplies of crude and refined products.
At the market yesterday, the price of the international benchmark, the Brent crude futures, gained $2.56 or 4.13 per cent to trade at $64.51 per barrel, while the US benchmark, the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures, went up by 4.12 per cent or $2.41 to sell at $60.97 per barrel.
The premise has risen when a ship blocked the tankers passageway in the Suez Canal in Egypt. The pathway is frequently used by tankers transporting crude from the world’s top exporters in the Middle East to customers across Europe and the United States, and also by ships moving cargoes from the North Sea to Asia.
Of the 39.2 million barrels per day of total seaborne trade in crude in 2020, a total of 1.74 million barrels per day went through the Suez Canal. Also, 1.54 million barrels per day of refined oil products such as petroleum and diesel fuel flow through the canal, about 9 per cent of global seaborne product trade and with this further disruption, prices shut up again.
New tensions in the Middle East also provoked prices as Yemen’s Houthi rebels say they have launched drone and ballistic missile attacks on Saudi Arabia, targeting oil facilities owned by the state-run Saudi Aramco company and military sites.
The attack coincides with the sixth anniversary of the kingdom’s military intervention into the neighbouring country.
The Iran-aligned group on Friday said targeted Aramco facilities in Ras Tanura, Rabigh, Yanbu and Jizan.
Saudi Arabia has faced an increasing number of such assaults and this has not slowed since it offered a ceasefire deal to the Houthis on Monday.
A Saudi-led military coalition has been carrying out bombings in Yemen since March 26, 2015, in support of the internationally recognised government that was toppled by the Houthis.
Also, expectations that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies (OPEC+) will likely maintain their lower production also supported prices.
The producer group is scheduled to meet on April 1 to decide on May supplies, and analysts expect the producer group to broadly stick to current lower levels, as the outlook for demand has deteriorated due to new lockdowns in Europe.
Countries in Europe are renewing restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19, which will likely reduce fuel demand from the region.
Germany, Europe’s largest economy, has seen its biggest increase in coronavirus cases since January. Others like France, Poland, Ukraine among others have also recorded surges and more lockdown measures will be instituted.
In parts of western India, authorities ordered people indoors as new infections hit the highest level in five months.
Economy
In Record Time: Octa Broker on How Speed Inspires Trust

In online trading, speed is king. Below, the experts at Octa, a regulated and trusted broker since 2011, break down the aspects of trading where speed matters most and offer an accessible way to accelerate your trading progress.
The modern world revolves around speed and solutions that solve problems faster than their predecessors. Speed advantage determines success in many industries and areas of life: information delivery, financial transactions, manufacturing, sports, and many more. This is especially true about all things digital, particularly online trading, where delays are considered a serious red flag by the modern consumer.
Why modern trading is all about speed
For modern traders, the broker’s ability to provide efficient order execution, fast withdrawals, and timely customer service are the key requirements for building trust. Without speed, a broker can hardly expect to establish long-term client relationships. Moreover, in the financial sector, speed comes in many forms.
The e-brokerage industry entirely depends on high-speed data feeds and information transfers executed with millisecond precision. Retail traders who operate from their desktops or mobile devices find navigating the markets proportionately easier if they are fast enough where and when it counts.
In online trading, especially in scalping or intraday trading with lesser timeframes, a breakout, reversal, or reaction to a news release can happen in seconds. Delayed order execution, a stuttering trading platform, or suspended reaction due to incomplete information can easily turn a low-risk, high-probability trade into a risky venture with an uncertain outcome.
Where in trading speed makes the most difference
Traders emphasise the importance of strategy, but it is the execution that often separates a positive outcome from a negative one. Choosing the right price movement direction is useless unless you do it on time. Fast execution means less slippage, better prices, tighter spreads, and more control over your risks.
Another speed-related factor that determines a positive trading experience and is, therefore, highly valued by traders is withdrawal speed. Octa broker’s recent survey shows that the ability to withdraw their funds without hiccups is one of the main reasons traders choose one broker over another.
Octa broker uses its global reach to establish close cooperation with various payment providers and systems. This way, Octa offers some of the fastest withdrawals on the market while avoiding any hidden charges. All the broker’s fees are reflected in its terms and conditions and can be reviewed in advance.
CFDs: a perfect instrument for modern-day trading
Contracts for difference, or CFDs, are well-known for speed and flexibility. With CFDs, you’re not buying an asset or a futures contract with delivery obligations—you’re trading price movement, and that makes the entire transaction faster and more direct.
CFDs allow you to profit from upward and downward market movements without restrictions. You don’t have to waste time waiting for a market surge or borrowing from an exchange if you are going short, as is often the case with crypto trading. This flexibility is especially advantageous in fast-moving markets, where direction can reverse in seconds.
Another advantage of CFDs is tight spreads and direct market access, which means the prices you see are among the best available in the market. On top of that, your trades are executed without interference. This eliminates delays and improves your chances of getting filled at or near your intended price.
Last but not least, CFDs provide multiple leverage options, which, if used wisely, can significantly increase your potential, albeit at the cost of increased exposure. Leverage allows traders to capitalise on short bursts of volatility instead of waiting for a major directional move to turn a profit.
Conclusion
Modern trading is driven by speed, efficiency, and transparency. Brokers build trust by allowing traders to operate efficiently in a high-frequency environment and act on volatility without delay. By ensuring fast withdrawals and a transparent, clearly communicated fee structure, brokers facilitate a seamless trading journey for their clients, contributing to their success in a vibrant environment where speed reigns supreme.
Trading involves risks and may not be suitable for all investors. Use your expertise wisely and evaluate all associated risks before making an investment decision.
Octa is an international broker that has been providing online trading services worldwide since 2011. It offers commission-free access to financial markets and various services used by clients from 180 countries who have opened more than 52 million trading accounts. To help its clients reach their investment goals, Octa offers free educational webinars, articles, and analytical tools.
The company is involved in a comprehensive network of charitable and humanitarian initiatives, including the improvement of educational infrastructure and short-notice relief projects supporting local communities.
Since its foundation, Octa has won more than 100 awards, including the ‘Most Reliable Broker Global 2024’ award from Global Forex Awards and the ‘Best Mobile Trading Platform 2024’ award from Global Brand Magazine.
Economy
Naira Weakens to N1,601/$1 at Official Market, N1,610/$1 at Black Market

By Adedapo Adesanya
The Naira witnessed a 0.12 per cent or N1.96 depreciation against the US Dollar at the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEX) on Monday, April 28, trading at N1,601.38/$1 compared with the N1,599.42/$1 it was transacted at the previous session, last Friday.
Similarly, the local currency depreciated against the Pound Sterling in the official market during the session by N56.21 to close at N2,186.65/£1, in contrast to the preceding session’s rate of N2,130.44/£1 and lost N29 Kobo on the Euro to sell for N1,818.82/€1 versus the previous trading day’s rate of N1,818.53/€1.
In the same vein, the domestic currency weakened against the Dollar in the black market yesterday by N5 to quote at N1,610/$1 compared with the preceding session’s value of N1,605/$1.
Market analysts have raise worries about the continued secondary effect of a trade war between the US and China on Nigeria and other nations’ economies.
For Nigeria, which is heavily dependent on crude oil for FX earnings, the impact of the beef between the two biggest economies is affecting prices, leading to weaker forex.
This is happening despite constant promise by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to continue propping up the local currency.
As for the cryptocurrency market, it was mixed on Monday amid signals from weak economic data just as rising tensions between India and Pakistan added to worries.
Amid macroeconomic uncertainty caused by the US-China trade tensions, the Dallas Fed Manufacturing Index, a typically little-noticed economic data point, plunged to -35.8 from -16.3 last month — making it the worst performance since COVID upended the world economy.
Hostilities between India and Pakistan might also have added to market jitters, with Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif claiming that an Indian military incursion into Pakistan was imminent.
According to reports, last week 26 people were killed in a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, a popular tourist destination in Indian-controlled Kashmir. The two countries have exchanged fire since.
Ethereum (ETH) gained 0.6 per cent to settle at $1,815.97, Binance Coin (BNB) improved by 0.5 per cent to $609.82, and Bitcoin (BTC) rose by 0.1 per cent to end at $94,626.01, while the US Dollar Tether (USDT) and the US Dollar Coin (USDC) closed flat at $1.00 apiece.
However, Solana (SOL) dipped by 0.9 per cent to trade at $147.90, Cardano (ADA) slumped by 1.0 per cent to $0.7102, Dogecoin (DOGE) depreciated by 0.9 per cent to $0.1792, Litecoin (LTC) shrank by 0.5 per cent to $86.55, and Ripple (XRP) went down by 0.3 per cent to $2.28.
Economy
NGX Investors Gain 0.34% on Interest in Consumer Goods Stocks

By Dipo Olowookere
The portfolios of investors at the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited increased by 0.34 per cent on Monday on the back of buying interest in consumer goods stocks and others.
Business Post observed bargain-hunting activities across the key sectors of the bourse, though the industrial goods index came under profit-taking, causing it to close lower by 0.57 per cent.
However, this did not affect the general outcome of Customs like it did last Friday.
The consumer goods industry went up by 1.31 per cent, the commodity space rose by 0.84 per cent, the energy counter appreciated by 0.69 per cent, the insurance sector grew by 0.52 per cent, and the banking index improved by 0.04 per cent.
As a result, the All-Share Index (ASI) was up by 363.13 points to 106,116.18 points from 105,753.05 points and the market capitalisation increased by N229 billion to N66.694 trillion from N66.465 trillion.
Investor sentiment was bullish yesterday as the bourse ended with 47 price gainers and 16 price losers, indicating a positive market breadth index.
International Breweries soared by 10.00 per cent to close at N8.47, Legend Internet appreciated by 9.97 per cent to N7.50, Cadbury Nigeria advanced by 9.96 pr cent to N29.25, Fidson grew by 9.95 per cent to N20.45, and Eterna chalked up 9.90 per cent to sell for N43.85.
Conversely, Livestock Feeds lost 10.00 per cent to settle at N8.55, Aradel declined y 9.86 per cent to N448.00, Tripple Gee fell by 9.60 per cent to N1.79, John Holt depreciated by 7.94 per cent to N5.80, and Linkage Assurance slumped by 6.15 per cent to N1.22.
During the session, the market participants traded 500.6 million stocks valued at N12.1 billion in 17,637 deals versus the 428.1 million stocks worth N20.2 billion in 14,284 deals, representing a shortfall in the trading value by 40.10 per cent, and a surge in the trading volume and number of deals by 16.94 per cent and 23.47 per cent, respectively.
Access Holdings was the most active equity for the day with a turnover of 60.9 million units valued at N1.2 billion, Fidelity Bank traded 56.1 million units worth N1.1 billion, UBA exchanged 34.5 million units for N1.2 billion, GTCO transacted 33.5 million units valued at N2.2 billion, and Nigerian Breweries sold 28.3 million units worth N1.2 billion.
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