Economy
Futures Pointing to Initial Strength on Wall Street
By Investors Hub
The major U.S. index futures are pointing to a higher opening on Wednesday following the lackluster performance seen in the previous session.
The upward momentum on Wall Street comes following the release of a report from the Labor Department showing consumer prices increased in line with economist estimates in the month of October.
The relatively tame inflation data may offset some recent concerns about the Federal Reserve raising interest rates faster than currently anticipated.
Trading activity may remain somewhat subdued, however, as lingering concerns about the global economic outlook may keep some traders on the sidelines.
Remarks by Fed Chairman Jerome Powell after the close of trading are also likely to attract attention, as traders look for additional clues about the outlook for interest rates.
Last week, the Fed left interest rates unchanged as widely expected but indicated it remains on track to gradually raise rates despite signs of a slowdown in the pace of growth in business investment.
Following the sell-off seen on Monday, stocks turned in a relatively lackluster performance during trading on Tuesday. The major averages spent the day bouncing back and forth across the unchanged line.
While the tech-heavy Nasdaq inched up 0.01 points or less than a tenth of a percent to 7,200.88, the S&P 500 dipped 4.04 points or 0.2 percent to 2,722.18 and the Dow fell 100.69 points or 0.4 percent to 25,286.49.
The choppy trading on Wall Street came as traders continued to express uncertainty about the global economic outlook and the impact of an anticipated increase in interest rates.
The initial strength on Wall Street came after a report from the Wall Street Journal said high-level U.S.-China trade talks have resumed ahead of a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping later this month.
Traders largely shrugged off a report from the Wall Street Journal indicating high-level U.S.-China trade talks have resumed ahead of a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping later this month.
The Journal said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He spoke by telephone on Friday about a deal that would ease trade tension.
Traders seemed reluctant to make more significant moves ahead of the release of closely watched reports on consumer price inflation, retail sales and industrial production in the coming days.
A notable drop by Boeing (BA) weighed on the Dow after a report from the Wall Street Journal said the aerospace giant withheld information about potential hazards associated with the automated stall-prevention system on its 737 MAX 8 and MAX 9 models.
Home improvement retail giant Home Depot (HD) also closed lower despite reporting better than expected third quarter results and raising its full-year guidance.
Energy stocks showed a substantial move to the downside on the day amid a steep drop by the price of crude oil. Reflecting the weakness in the energy sector, the Philadelphia Oil Service Index plunged by 4.3 percent and the NYSE Arca Oil Index tumbled by 2.6 percent.
A decrease by the price of gold also weighed on gold stocks, resulting in a 1.3 percent drop by the NYSE Arca Gold Bugs Index.
On the other hand, semiconductor stocks rebounded after moving sharply lower over the past few sessions, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index climbing by 1.4 percent.
Graphics chip maker Nvidia (NVDA) posted a standout gain after Susquehanna upgraded its rating on the company’s stock to Positive from Neutral.
Notable strength was also visible among housing stocks, as reflected by the 1.1 percent gain posted by the Philadelphia Housing Sector Index.
Economy
46 Stocks Gain Weight, 53 Equities Lose on NGX in One Week
By Dipo Olowookere
The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited was bullish last week despite investors’ mood swing, triggered by happenings in the country and across the globe, especially the Middle East crisis.
The All-Share Index (ASI) and the market capitalisation appreciated week-on-week by 3.94 per cent to 225,722.49 points and N145.335 trillion, respectively.
Similarly, all other indices finished higher with the exception of the growth and commodity indices, which depreciated by 0.02 per cent and 0.41 per cent, respectively, while the sovereign bond index closed flat.
A look at the price changes of shares in the five-day trading week showed that
46 stocks gained weight versus 61 stocks of the previous week, 53 equities shed weight compared with 36 equities a week earlier, and 47 shares closed flat, in contrast to 49 shares of the preceding week.
UAC Nigeria led the gainers’ chart after it chalked up 42.00 per cent to trade at N142.00, Union Dicon appreciated by 32.73 per cent to N21.90, NASCON expanded by 32.63 per cent to N206.90, Trans-Nationwide Express rose by 30.58 per cent to N7.90, and Zichis improved by 25.71 per cent to N15.60.
On the flip side, Infinity Trust Mortgage Bank led the losers’ group after it gave up 50.79 per cent to close at N9.35, Abbey Mortgage Bank declined by 33.33 per cent to N5.40, Guinea Insurance slipped by 15.20 per cent to N1.06, Stanbic IBTC lost 13.82 per cent to settle at N162.50, and Living Trust Mortgage Bank slumped by 10.98 per cent to N3.65.
As for the activity log, Customs Street recorded a turnover of 3.805 billion shares worth N213.955 billion in 297,202 deals in the week compared with 3.588 billion shares valued at N195.313 billion transacted in 254,553 deals in the previous week.
Financial stocks led the activity chart with 2.739 billion units sold for N106.269 billion in 135,101 deals, contributing 71.99 per cent and 49.67 per cent to the total trading volume and value, respectively.
Services equities traded 212.324 million units worth N4.024 billion in 17,042 deals, and consumer goods shares exchanged 180.076 million units valued at N13.269 billion in 32,457 deals.
Access Holdings, UBA, and First Holdco were the busiest with 814.060 million units traded for N39.032 billion in 37,195 deals, contributing 21.40 per cent and 18.24 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value, respectively.
Economy
NGX Group’s 65th Annual General Meeting Holds April 29
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The 65th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Group Plc has been fixed for Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at 11:00 am at its corporate head office on 2–4 Customs Street, Lagos.
Business Post gathered that the meeting would be streamed live on the company’s website and social media platforms to enable broader participation by shareholders and stakeholders unable to attend physically.
As part of a special business, shareholders will consider a proposed bonus issue of one new ordinary share for every three existing shares held as at the close of business on April 10, 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.
The proposal also includes an increase in the organisation’s share capital from N1,102,309,954 to N1,469,746,605, to accommodate the bonus shares and amendments to the Memorandum of Association to reflect the new capital structure.
Also at the gathering, shareholders will consider and, if deemed fit, approve the company’s audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2025, alongside the reports of the directors, auditors, board evaluation consultants, and audit committee.
The meeting will also deliberate on the declaration of a final dividend and the re-election of three non-executive directors retiring by rotation, who are Mr Umaru Kwairanga, Mrs Ojinika Olaghere, and Dr Okechukwu Itanyi.
Other ordinary business items on the agenda include authorising the board to fix the remuneration of the external auditors, determining the remuneration of managers, and electing members of the statutory audit committee.
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