Economy
CSCS, UBN Property Depress NASD Market Cap by 0.68%

By Adedapo Adesanya
The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange extended its stay in the negative zone on Friday as it went down by 0.68 per cent at the close of business.
The NASD market closed bearish as a result of the decline in the share prices of Central Securities Clearing Systems (CSCS) Plc and UBN Property Plc.
During the trading session, CSCS Plc depreciated by N1.03 or 6.4 per cent to trade at N16.17 per unit compared with the previous close of N17.20 per unit, while UBN Property Plc fell by one kobo or one per cent to trade at 99 kobo per share in contrast to N1 per share of the preceding session.
The duo weakened the gains printed by Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Group Plc as the stock could not determine the outcome of the unlisted securities market. NGX Group Plc appreciated by 44 kobo or 2.7 per cent to close at N16.45 per unit as against N16.01 per unit it traded a day earlier.
At the close of transactions, the total value of stocks on the exchange decreased by N4.35 billion to N638.75 billion from N643.10 billion, while the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) decreased by 4.99 points to wrap the session at 734.90 points compared with 734.90 points recorded at the previous session.
Business Post reports that there was an increase of 125.7 per cent in the volume of securities traded at the bourse at the final session for the week as investors exchanged 2.9 million units compared to 1.3 million units of securities traded at the preceding session.
There was also a rise in the value of shares traded yesterday by 56.5 per cent to N32.6 million from N20.8 million made on Thursday. These trades were carried out in 27 deals, 22.7 per cent higher than the 22 deals executed at the preceding session.
Geo Fluids Plc finished the trading day as the most active stock by volume (year-to-date) as it has traded 1.0 billion units of its shares for N700.1 million. NGX Group Plc remained on the second spot as it has traded 417.9 million units valued at N8.7 billion, while Food Concepts Plc occupied third place with 295.0 million units worth N386 million.
However, the most active stock by value (year-to-date) was NGX Group Plc for transacting 417.9 million units of its securities for N8.7 billion. VFD Group Plc remained in the second spot with 6.6 million units of its securities valued at N2.2 billion, followed by FrieslandCampina WAMCO Plc with 8.2 million units worth N1.0 billion.
Economy
Naira Remains Stable at N1,500/$1 at Official Market

By Adedapo Adesanya
The Naira closed flat against the United States Dollar at N1,500.65/$1 in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM) on Friday, February 7, after recording losses in four straight sessions in the trading week.
The recent pressure on the market across majorly regulated channels came despite recent policy moves by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) creating more trading transparency and ethical practices.
However, the domestic currency depreciated against the Pound Sterling in the official market yesterday by N8.78 to trade at N1,868.76/£1 compared with the previous day’s rate of N1,859.98/£1 and against the Euro, it weakened by N1.95 to settle at N1,557.13/€1, in contrast to Thursday’s closing price of N1,555.18/€1.
At the parallel market, the Nigerian currency improved its value further against the US Dollar on Friday by N5 to sell for N1,565/$1 compared with the preceding session’s N1,570/$1.
As for the cryptocurrency market, it slumped yesterday after the US Bureau of Labor Statistics said the country’s economy added 143,000 jobs in January, below the forecast 170,000 and down from 256,000 in December.
Ethereum (ETH) declined by 4.5 per cent to sell at $2,615.76, Cardano slumped 4.3 per cent to trade at $0.6949, Litecoin (LTC) depreciated by 1.9 per cent to settle at $103.35, Dogecoin (DOGE) fell by 1.7 per cent to $0.2476, Solana (SOL) recorded a 1.4 per cent loss to close at $193.39, Bitcoin (BTC) depleted by 1.2 per cent to $96,138.53, and Binance Coin (BNB) went down by 1.1 per cent to quote at $578.78.
On the flip side, Ripple (XRP) gained 1.8 per cent to trade at $2.36, while the US Dollar Tether (USDT) and the US Dollar Coin (USDC) traded flat $1.00 each.
Economy
Oil Prices up on Fresh Iran Crude Export Sanctions

By Adedapo Adesanya
Oil prices went up on Friday after new sanctions were imposed on Iran’s crude exports, with Brent crude futures expanding by 37 cents or 0.5 per cent to $74.66 per barrel, and the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures growing by 39 cents or 0.55 per cent to $71.00 a barrel.
However, for the week, prices were down by 2 per cent as investors worried about US President Donald Trump’s renewed trade war with China and threats of tariffs on other countries.
Reports of planned tariffs from the Trump administration reined in gains following the sanctions announced on Thursday.
The American president on Friday said he plans to announce reciprocal tariffs on many countries by Monday or Tuesday of next week.
President Trump did not identify which countries would be hit but suggested it would be a broad effort that could also help solve US budget problems.
However, Mr Trump’s Commerce secretary nominee Howard Lutnick voiced concerns about India’s high tariff rates, while US Trade Representative nominee Jamieson Greer discussed US complaints about Vietnam’s and Brazil’s tariffs and trade barriers.
He had earlier announced a 10 per cent tariff on Chinese imports as part of a broad plan to improve the US trade balance, but suspended plans to impose steep tariffs on Mexico and Canada.
But market analysts noted that this could be a major escalation of his offensive to tear up and reshape global trade relationships in the US favour.
On Thursday, it imposed new sanctions on a few individuals and tankers helping to ship millions of barrels of Iranian crude oil per year to China as it intensified war against Iran.
Iran’s President, Mr Masoud Pezeshkian, called on its fellow members in the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to stand united against ‘destabilizing’ US sanctions, meeting with OPEC Secretary General Khaitam al-Ghais as the country assumes the rotating presidency of the organisation.
Economy
Bulls Tighten Grip on Nigerian Exchange With 0.48% Growth

By Dipo Olowookere
The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited appreciated further by 0.48 per cent on Friday after market participants showed no signs of slowing down in their hunt for stocks with sound fundamentals.
During the session, all the key sectors of the bourse witnessed bargain-hunting activities, with the banking counter growing by 1.72 per cent.
Further, the insurance index expanded by 1.64 per cent, the industrial goods sector jumped by 0.77 per cent, the consumer goods industry rose by 0.11 per cent and the energy space also gained 0.11 per cent.
Consequently, the All-Share Index (ASI) increased by 502.88 points to 105,933.03 points from the 105,430.15 points it ended a day earlier, and the market capitalisation gained 0.47 per cent or N305 billion to settle at N65.592 trillion compared with Thursday’s N65.287 trillion.
A total of 37 equities ended on the gainers’ chart yesterday and 17 equities on the losers’ table, implying a strong investor sentiment and positive market breadth index.
Academy Press appreciated by 9.93 per cent to N2.99, Cadbury Nigeria also improved its value by 9.93 per cent to N29.35, Eterna rose by 9.90 per cent to N36.65, Livestock Feeds expanded by 9.85 per cent to N5.80, and UPDC soared by 9.75 per cent to N2.59.
On the flip side, Multiverse lost 9.95 per cent to close at N9.05, MeCure Industries shed 9.71 per cent to N12.55, NPF Microfinance Bank slumped by 7.94 per cent to N1.74, Learn Africa declined by 4.44 per cent to N4.30, and Tantalizers soured by 3.85 per cent to N2.00.
Investors transacted 468.2 million shares worth N13.2 billion in 12,612 deals on the last trading session of the week compared with the 537.2 million shares valued at N23.0 billion traded in 15,450 deals in the preceding session, representing a decline in the trading volume, value and number of deals by 12.84 per cent, 42.61 per cent and 18.37 per cent, respectively.
The busiest stock for the day was Zenith Bank with a turnover of 108.8 million units worth N5.0 billion, Cutix traded 24.3 million units valued at N58.7 million, Access Holdings exchanged 23.6 million units for N657.7 million, Sterling Holdings transacted 22.8 million units valued at N136.0 million, and Fidelity Bank sold 20.4 million units worth N426.3 million.
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