Economy

Downward Momentum Persists Amid Lingering Concerns About Economy, Trade

Published

7 years ago

17/12/2018

By Investors Hub

The major U.S. index futures are pointing to a lower opening on Monday, with stocks likely to see further downside following the sell-off seen last Friday.

The downward momentum on Wall Street comes amid lingering concerns about global economic growth as well as continued uncertainty about trade between the U.S. and China.

Traders may also be on edge ahead of the Federal Reserve?s highly anticipated monetary policy announcement scheduled for Wednesday.

The Fed is widely expected to raise interest rates by another quarter point, although traders are likely to closely scrutinize the central bank?s accompanying statement and forecasts for clues about future rate hikes.

Negative sentiment may also be generated in reaction to a report from the New York Federal Reserve showing a substantial slowdown in the pace of growth in regional manufacturing activity in the month of December.

Stocks have recently seen considerable volatility, however, suggesting an early move to the downside may not be the end of the day?s story for the markets.

Following the lackluster performance in the previous session, stocks moved sharply lower over the course of the trading day on Friday. The Dow and the S&P 500 tumbled to their lowest closing levels in seven and eight months, respectively.

The major averages climbed off their worst levels going into the close but remained firmly negative. The Dow plunged 496.87 points or 2 percent to 24,100.51, the Nasdaq nosedived 159.67 points or 2.3 percent to 6,910.67 and the S&P 500 plummeted 50.59 points or 1.9 percent to 2,599.95.

With the steep losses on the day, the major averages also moved lower for the week. The Nasdaq slid by 0.8 percent, while the Dow and the S&P 500 slumped by 1.2 percent and 1.3 percent, respectively.

The sell-off on Wall Street came amid renewed concerns about the outlook for global economic growth following the release of data showing disappointing industrial output and retail sales growth in China.

The latest batch of economic data showed Chinese industrial output grew at its slowest pace in nearly three years, increasing by 5.4 percent in November after growing by 5.9 percent a month earlier.

Meanwhile, retail sales in China grew 8.1 percent in November, the weakest growth since 2003. In October, retail sales were up 8.6 percent.

The slower pace of industrial output and retail sales growth was partly due to the impact of the ongoing trade dispute with the U.S.

President Donald Trump appeared to take credit for China’s disappointing economic data in a post on Twitter on Friday.

“China just announced that their economy is growing much slower than anticipated because of our Trade War with them,” Trump tweeted. “U.S. is doing very well. China wants to make a big and very comprehensive deal. It could happen, and rather soon!”

Trump seemed to reference China’s recently confirmed decision to temporarily lower tariffs on vehicles made in the U.S. to 15 percent from 40 percent.

A report showing growth in the eurozone private sector has decelerated to its slowest pace in more than four years in December added to the negative sentiment.

On the U.S. economic front, the Commerce Department released a report showing slightly weaker than expected retail sales growth in November due to a steep drop in sales by gas stations, although underlying retail sales growth remained strong.

The Commerce Department said retail sales edged up by 0.2 percent in November after spiking by an upwardly revised 1.1 percent in October.

Economists had expected retail sales to rise by 0.3 percent compared to the 0.8 percent increase originally reported for the previous month.

Meanwhile, the report said closely watched core retail sales, which exclude autos, gasoline, building materials and food services, increased by 0.9 percent in November after climbing by an upwardly revised 0.7 percent in October.

“Along with the continued strength of the labor market, the boost to real incomes from the recent plunge in gasoline prices appears to be providing a big support to spending growth, which could continue for a few more months,” said Andrew Hunter, Senior U.S. Economist at Capital Economics.

He added, “Nonetheless, with the earlier boost from tax cuts now fading and rising interest rates likely to become an increasing drag, we still expect consumption growth to slow next year.”

A separate report from the Federal Reserve showed a much bigger than expected increase in industrial production in November, but manufacturing output was unchanged.

Oil service stocks showed a substantial move to the downside on the day, extending a recent sell-off. The Philadelphia Oil Service Index plunged by 4.3 percent to its lowest closing level in fifteen years. The continued weakness among oil service stocks came amid a steep stop by the price of crude oil.

Significant weakness was also visible among pharmaceutical stocks, as reflected by the 3.4 percent slump by the NYSE Arca Pharmaceutical Index

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) posted a steep loss after a report from Reuters said the healthcare giant knew for decades that its talcum baby powder supply contained asbestos.

Natural gas, software, retail and gold stocks also saw considerable weakness on the day amid a broad based sell-off on Wall Street.

Economy

NASD Bourse Edges Up 0.23% as NSI Nears 3,970 Points

Published

18 minutes ago

24/04/2026

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange further appreciated by 0.23 per cent on Thursday, April 23, with the Unlisted Security Index (NSI) adding 8.99 points to close at 3,969.96 points against the previous day’s 3,968 points.

The rise in the share price of Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc by N2.86 to N69.34 per unit from N66.48 per unit raised the market capitalisation of the NASD bourse by N5.38 billion to N2.380 trillion from N2.375 trillion.

Yesterday, there were two price losers, led by Food Concepts Plc, which lost 29 Kobo to sell at N2.65 per share versus N2.94 per share, while UBN Property Plc dipped by 22 Kobo to N2.03 per unit from N2.25 per unit.

During the session, the volume of securities traded declined by 97.9 per cent to 451,522 units from 21.5 million units on Wednesday, the value of securities depreciated by 52.32 per cent to N23.6 million from N49.5 million, and the number of deals depreciated by 3.6 per cent to 27 deals from 28 deals.

At the close of business, 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 CSCS Plc with 59.5 million units exchanged for N4.0 billion, and Okitipupa Plc with 27.8 million units traded for N1.9 billion.

GNI Plc also closed the day as the most traded stock by volume on a year-to-date basis with 3.4 billion units worth N8.4 billion, trailed by Resourcery Plc with 1.1 billion units transacted for N415.7 million, and Infrastructure Guarantee Credit Plc with 400 million units sold for N1.2 billion.

Economy

Naira Weakens to N1,353/$ at Official Market

Published

35 minutes ago

24/04/2026

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

Fresh foreign exchange (forex) demand pressure saw the Naira depreciate against the United States Dollar in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEX) on Thursday, April 22, by N5.46 or 0.4 per cent to trade at N1,353.91/$1 compared with the preceding day’s value of N1,348.45/$1.

It was the same outcome for the local currency in the official market after it depreciated against the Pound Sterling by N4.13 to close at N1,825.88/£1, in contrast to the preceding session’s N1,821.75/£1, and against the Euro, it dropped 72 Kobo to finish at N1,582.72/€1 versus N1,582.00/€1.

But the Nigerian Naira appreciated against the US Dollar at the GTBank FX desk by N2 during the session to quote at N1,361/$1 compared with Wednesday’s closing price of N1,361/$1, and at the parallel market, it closed flat at N1,375/$1.

FX Pressure came as data showed that NFEM interbank turnover was N28.117 million, lower than the N66.084 million recorded the previous day.

Concerns over liquidity pressures, policy transparency, and confidence in Nigeria’s FX market continue to grip the market while the country’s foreign reserve declines further, even as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) recently said that the recent decline in Nigeria’s external reserves should not be a cause for concern.

Global developments also played a significant role, as rising geopolitical tensions boosted demand for the US Dollar, further weakening emerging market currencies, including the Naira.

As for the cryptocurrency market, there was a mixed outcome as traders reacted to rising geopolitical tensions from the Iran war and fresh inflation data from Japan.

Japanese inflation ticked higher in March, stoking expectations that the Bank of Japan may soon signal rate hikes, which could strengthen the yen and unsettle global risk assets.

The Iran conflict has disrupted oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, raising energy costs and inflation risks worldwide and potentially complicating efforts by the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates.

Ethereum (ETH) declined by 1.8 per cent to $2,316.53, Bitcoin (BTC) lost 0.6 per cent to sell at $77,935.53, Solana (SOL) fell by 0.5 per cent to $85.67, and Binance Coin (BNB) dropped 0.4 per cent to sell for $634.85.

However, Dogecoin (DOGE) appreciated by 1.4 per cent to $0.0976, Ripple (XRP) grew by 0.7 per cent to $1.43, Cardano (ADA) expanded by 0.6 per cent to $0.2493, and TRON (TRX) improved by 0.2 per cent to $0.3279, while the US Dollar Tether (USDT) and the US Dollar Coin (USDC) traded flat at $1.00 each.

Economy

NB Plc’s Strong Recovery, Improved Profitability Excite Shareholders

Published

3 hours ago

24/04/2026

Aduragbemi Omiyale

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The resilience shown by Nigerian Breweries Plc in the 2025 fiscal year, despite a volatile macroeconomic environment, which consumed several businesses, has not got without notice.

Shareholders of the brewery giant applauded the board and management for the strong recovery and improved profitability recorded in the year.

At the company’s 80th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in Lagos, they attributed these achievements to disciplined cost management and a significant reduction in finance expenses.

“We are proud of how the company has withstood the ups and downs of a challenging environment. The return to profitability and the reversal of the negative cash position recorded in the previous two financial years are commendable,” a member of the Noble Shareholders Association, Mr Owolabi Opeyemi, said at the gathering.

Also, the immediate past Secretary of the Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Mr Eke Emmanuel, noted that the company’s resilience reflects strong leadership and a sound strategic direction.

“It is good news that we have been here for 80 years. There is no reason why we will not be here for the next 80 years with what we have achieved. To return to this level of profitability and cash position shows the Board has done an enormous amount of work,” he said.

Addressing investors at the AGM, the board chairman, Mrs Juliet Anammah, expressed confidence that the company is firmly on a recovery path following the net losses recorded in the past two years due to macroeconomic pressures and fiscal reforms.

She thanked shareholders for their continued support and reaffirmed that the company will build on its 2025 performance as it accelerates growth ambitions.

“We have a solid foundation built over eight decades, anchored on a strong portfolio of brands, an extensive nationwide sales and supply chain network, ongoing digital transformation, and most importantly, our people. These strengths remain critical to sustaining our leadership position,” the former chief executive of Jumia Nigeria said.

Ms Anammah also addressed the company’s dividend position, noting that the decision not to declare a dividend reflects the need to rebuild retained earnings impacted by prior macroeconomic shocks, particularly foreign exchange-related losses.

“We recognise the importance of dividend payments to our shareholders and sincerely appreciate your continued understanding. While we are not declaring a dividend at this time due to negative retained earnings, we are working diligently to restore the company’s financial position and return to dividend payments as soon as it is sustainable to do so,” she added.

She further noted that the board remains vigilant to external risks, including the Middle East crisis and broader macroeconomic challenges, which may impact the pace of improvement in the 2026 financial year.