Economy

Inflation to Drop in June to 10.94% from 11.61%—FSDH Analysts

Published

7 years ago

08/07/2018

By Dipo Olowookere

Analysts at FSDH Research have predicted that the year-on-year inflation rate for the month of June 2018 would moderate further to 10.94 percent from the 11.61 percent recorded in May 2018.

According to its Inflation Watch released last Thursday, the drop in the inflation rate would reflect the base effect in the Composite Consumer Price Index (CCPI) from the previous year and slower rate of increase in prices.

Based on the calendar on its website, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) is due to release the inflation rate for the month of June on Friday, July 13, 2018.

FSDH Research said in its report obtained by Business Post that it notes that consumer prices increased in June but at a lower rate than the increases recorded in May.

It noted that the prices of most of the food items monitored in June 2018 increased, leading to a 1.10 percent increase in its Food and Non-Alcoholic Index. This Index increased year-on-year by 12.43 percent, up from 245.10 points recorded in June 2017.

The leading investment firm also observed an increase in the prices of Transport and Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels divisions between May and June 2018.

According to the Food Price Index (FPI) published last week by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for the month of June 2018 shows that the Index averaged 173.7 points, 1.3 percent lower than the value for May 2018, and representing the first month-on-month decline in 2018.

The FAO explained that the rising tensions regarding international trade relations among large economies have weakened prices.

The FAO Cereal Price Index was down by 3.7 percent, but 8 percent higher than a year ago, with the drop driven largely by relatively sharp falls in maize and wheat prices, while rice prices increased.

The FAO Dairy Price Index also dropped by 0.90 percent between May and June; driven by the decrease in cheese prices, more than offsetting a rise in skim milk powder prices, while those of butter and whole milk powder remained unchanged.

The FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index was also down by 3 percent, primarily driven by a decline in the prices of palm oil, soybean and sunflower oils occasioned by slow global imports demand and large inventories.

However, the FAO Sugar Index increased by 1.2 percent from May, making it the first increase after six months of consecutive declines. The FAO Meat Index was also marginally up by 0.3 percent driven by the increase in the prices for ovine and pig meat.

FSDH Research said its analysis indicates that the value of the Naira appreciated at the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange (NAFEX) market in June 2018. The value of the Naira appreciated by 0.15 percent to close at $/N361.08k at the NAFEX market at the end of June.

The general decline in the international prices of food coupled with the appreciation in the value of the Naira muted the prices of imported consumer goods in Nigeria between the two months under review.

Economy

PenCom Extends Deadline for Pension Recapitalisation to June 2027

Published

6 hours ago

19/12/2025

Aduragbemi Omiyale

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The deadline for the recapitalisation of the Nigerian pension industry has been extended by six months to June 2027 from December 2026.

This extension was approved by the National Pension Commission (PenCom), the agency, which regulates the sector in the country.

Addressing newsmen on Thursday in Lagos, the Director-General of PenCom, Ms Omolola Oloworaran, explained that the shift in deadline was to give operators more time to boost the capital base, dismissing speculations that the exercise had been suspended.

“The recapitalisation has not been suspended. We have communicated the requirements to the Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), and we expect every operator to be compliant by June 2027. Anyone who is not compliant by then will lose their licence,” Ms Oloworaran told journalists.

She added that, “From a regulatory standpoint, our major challenge is ensuring compliance. We are working with ICPC, labour and the TUC to ensure employers remit pension contributions for their employees.”

The DG noted that engagements with industry operators indicated broad acceptance of the policy, with many PFAs already taking steps to raise additional capital or explore mergers and acquisitions.

“You may see some mergers and acquisitions in the industry, but what is clear is that the recapitalisation exercise is on track and the industry agrees with us,” she stated.

PenCom wants the PFAs to increase their capital base and has created three categories, with the first consists operators with Assets Under Management of N500 billion and above. They are expected to have a minimum capital of N20 billion and one per cent of AUM above N500 billion.

The second category has PFAs with AUM below N500 billion, which must have at least N20 billion as capital base.

The last segment comprises special-purpose PFAs such as NPF Pensions Limited, whose minimum capital was pegged at N30 billion, and the Nigerian University Pension Management Company Limited, whose minimum capital was fixed at N20 billion.

Economy

Three Securities Sink NASD Exchange by 0.68%

Published

6 hours ago

19/12/2025

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

Three securities weakened the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange by 0.68 per cent on Thursday, December 18.

According to data, Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc led the losers’ group after it slipped by N2.87 to N36.78 per share from N39.65 per share, Golden Capital Plc depreciated by 77 Kobo to end at N6.98 per unit versus the previous day’s N7.77 per unit, and FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc dropped 19 Kobo to sell at N60.00 per share versus Wednesday’s closing price of N60.19 per share.

At the close of business, the market capitalisation lost N16.81 billion to finish at N2.147 billion compared with the preceding session’s N2.164 trillion, and the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) declined by 24.76 points to 3,589.88 points from 3,614.64 points.

Yesterday, the volume of securities bought and sold increased by 49.3 per cent to 30.5 million units from 20.4 million units, the value of securities surged by 211.8 per cent to N225.1 million from N72.2 million, and the number of deals jumped by 33.3 per cent to 28 deals from 21 deals.

Infrastructure Credit Guarantee Company (InfraCredit) Plc remained the most traded stock by value with a year-to-date sale of 5.8 billion units valued at N16.4 billion, followed by Okitipupa Plc with 178.9 million units transacted for N9.5 billion, and MRS Oil Plc with 36.1 million units worth N4.9 billion.

Similarly, InfraCredit Plc ended as the most traded stock by volume on a year-to-date basis with 5.8 billion units traded for N16.4 billion, trailed by Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) Plc with 1.2 billion units sold for N420.7 million, and Impresit Bakolori Plc with 536.9 million units exchanged for N524.9 million.

Economy

NGX Index Crosses 150,000 points as Market Cap Nears N96trn

Published

6 hours ago

19/12/2025

Dipo Olowookere

By Dipo Olowookere

The All-Share Index (ASI) of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited has again crossed the 150,000-point threshold on Thursday as the demand of for local intensifies.

The market was up by 0.35 per cent during the session, with the NGX index inching higher by 520.23 points to 150,363.05 points from the previous day’s 149,842.82 points and the market capitalisation climbed by N332 billion to N95.857 trillion from N95.525 trillion.

During the session, the consumer goods index grew by 1.23 per cent, the banking counter expanded by 0.56 per cent, and the energy sector appreciated by 0.05 per cent.

However, the insurance industry went down by 0.23 per cent, while the commodity and the industrial goods sectors closed flat.

Nestle Nigeria gained 10.00 per cent to trade at N1,958.00, Guinness Nigeria improved by 9.98 per cent to N289.70, Aluminium Extrusion Industries rose by 9.76 per cent to N11.25, DAAR Communications soared by 9.20 per cent to 95 Kobo, and Mecure Industries surged by 9.13 per cent to N55.00.

On the flip side, Stanbic IBTC lost 9.33 per cent to settle at N95.20, Lasaco Assurance went down by 9.09 per cent to N2.50, Africa Prudential slipped by 8.82 per cent, Austin Laz depreciated by 8.82 per cent to N12.40, and Sterling Holdings crashed by 6.12 per cent to N6.90.

There were 35 price gainers and 26 price losers yesterday, implying a positive market breadth index and bullish investor sentiment.

During the session, a total of 839.8 million equities valued at N32.8 billion exchanged hands in 23,211 deals compared with the 5.9 billion equities worth N216.2 billion traded in 25,205 deals a day earlier, indicating a decline in the trading volume, value, and number of deals by 85.77 per cent, 84.83 per cent, and 7.91 per cent apiece.

The day’s busiest stock was First Holdco with a turnover of 385.6 million units sold for N15.6 billion, FCMB traded 76.0 million units worth N805.3 million, Lasaco Assurance exchanged 43.6 million units valued at N111.8 million, Access Holdings transacted 29.6 million units worth N616.8 million, and Chams sold 24.8 million units valued at N75.4 million.