Economy
Interest Rate Worries May Weigh On US Shares
By Investors Hub
The major U.S. index futures are pointing to a lower opening on Thursday, with stocks likely to move back to the downside following the modest rebound seen in the previous session.
The futures saw further downside following the release of a report from the Labor Department showing a sharp jump in labor costs in the fourth quarter.
The Labor Department said unit labor costs spiked by 2.0 percent in the fourth quarter after slipping by a revised 0.1 percent in the third quarter. Economists had expected costs to climb by 0.8 percent.
The data may raise concerns about the outlook for interest rates after the Federal Reserve predicted inflation would move up this year and stabilize around its 2 percent objective over the medium term.
Stocks fluctuated over the course of the trading session on Wednesday after failing to sustain an early move to the upside. The major averages bounced back and forth across the unchanged line before closing modestly higher.
The major averages finished the session in positive territory after closing lower for two straight days. The Dow rose 72.50 points or 0.3 percent to 26,149.39, the Nasdaq inched up 9.00 points or 0.1 percent to 7,411.48 and the S&P 500 crept up 1.38 points or 0.1 percent to 2,823.81.
The modestly higher close on Wall Street came after the Federal Reserve announced its widely expected decision to leave interest rates unchanged.
The Fed’s accompanying statement was seen as slightly more hawkish, reinforcing expectations the central bank will raise rates at its next meeting in March.
In the statement, the Fed said data received since its last meeting in December indicates that the labor market has continued to strengthen and that economic activity has been rising at a solid rate.
The central bank reiterated that it expects economic conditions to evolve in a manner that will warrant further gradual increases in the federal funds rate.
“Janet Yellen’s final policy meeting as Fed Chair pretty much summed up her entire tenure; policy was left accommodative but there were hints it will be tightened gradually in the future,” said Michael Pearce, Senior U.S. Economist at Capital Economics.
He added, “The slightly more hawkish language in the statement is enough to confirm expectations of a March hike and adds weight to our view that the Fed will raise rates four times this year.”
On the U.S. economic front, payroll processor ADP released a report showing stronger than expected private sector job growth in the month of January.
ADP said employment in the private sector spiked by 234,000 jobs in January after surging up by a revised 242,000 jobs in December.
Economists had expected an increase of about 185,000 jobs compared to the jump of 250,000 jobs originally reported for the previous month.
A separate report from the National Association of Realtors showed pending home sales increased for the third consecutive month in December.
NAR said its pending home sales index climbed by 0.5 percent to 110.1 in December after rising by 0.3 percent to an upwardly revised 109.6 in November. Economists had expected the index to increase by 0.4 percent.
Software stocks turned in some of the market’s best performances on the day, resulting in a 1.6 percent advance by the Dow Jones Software Index.
Video game publisher Electronic Arts (EA) posted a standout gain after reporting weaker than expected fiscal third quarter results but providing upbeat guidance for the current quarter.
Considerable strength was also visible among commercial real estate stocks, as reflected by the 1.8 percent gain posted by the Morgan Stanley REIT Index. The index rebounded after ending the previous session at its lowest closing level in over a year.
Gold and utilities stocks also moved notably higher on the day, while pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and trucking stocks showed significant moves to the downside.
Eli Lilly (LLY) helped to lead the pharmaceutical sector lower even though the drug maker reported better than expected fourth quarter results.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The founder and chief executive of Austin Laz and Company Plc, Mr Asimonye Austin Lazarus Azubuike, has sold off about 52.24 million shares of the organisation.
The stocks were offloaded in 11 tranches at an average price of N4.36 per unit, amounting to about N227.8 million.
The transactions occurred between December 2025 and January 2026, according to a notice filed by the company to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited on Friday.
Business Post reports that Austin Laz is known for producing ice block machines, aluminium roofing, thermoplastics coolers, PVC windows and doors, ice cream machines, and disposable plates.
The firm evolved from refrigeration sales to diverse manufacturing since its incorporation in 1982 in Benin City, Edo State, though facing recent operational halts.
According to the statement signed by company secretary, Ifeanyi Offor & Associates, Mr Azubuike first sold 1.5 million units of the equities at N2.42, and then offloaded 2.4 million units at N2.65, and 2.0 million units at N2.65.
In another tranche, he sold another 2.0 million units at a unit price of N2.91, and then 5.0 million units at N3.52, as well as about 4.5 million at N3.87 per share.
It was further disclosed that the owner of the company also sold 9.0 million shares at N4.25, and offloaded another 368,411 units at N4.66, then in another transaction sold about 6.9 million units at N4.67.
In the last two transactions he carried out, Mr Azubuike first traded 10.0 million units equities at N5.13, with the last being 8.5 million stocks sold at N5.64 per unit.
By Dipo Olowookere
ASO Savings and Loans Plc has been delisted from the daily official list of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited.
This action followed the revocation of the operating licence of the company by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in December 2025.
In a circular on behalf of the NGX Regulation (NGX RegCo) by Ugochi Eke, it was disclosed that the effective date of the delisting is today, Friday, January 16, 2026.
Already, the company has been notified of this development, according to the notice obtained by Business Post.
Before ASO Savings lost its operating licence, it had failed to meet some post-listing requirements, a part of the disclosure from the NGX RegCo stated.
“The board of NGX Regulation Limited via its decision dated January 1, 2026, approved that the step below should be taken pursuant to the process for regulatory delisting of issuers.
“The board has approved the delisting of ASO Savings and Loans Plc from the Nigerian Exchange Limited’s daily official list effective January 16, 2026.
“ASO Savings is hereby notified of this enforcement action and is advised to direct any communication in respect of the foregoing to [email protected].
“NGX RegCo was engaging the listed entity, concerning its outstanding post-listing obligations. However, due to the revocation of the operating license of ASO Savings by its primary regulator, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) effective December 16, 2025; NGX RegCo will delist the entity from the daily official list effective January 16, 2026.
“In view of the foregoing, NGX RegCo has proceeded with publishing the name of the Company in the national dailies.
“The company has been duly notified of this enforcement action, and this publication serves as notification to the investing public, particularly shareholders of the company and investors in the Nigerian capital market,” the statement read.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Mr Heineken Lokpobiri, has issued a stern warning to oil and gas investors that petroleum licences in Nigeria are strictly for active development, not asset hoarding or speculative holding, declaring that operators must drill or risk losing their rights.
He made this admonition while delivering his message at the 2025 Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) Licensing Bid Round Conference in Lagos, where he outlined the government’s hardline stance on asset utilisation and investor accountability.
“The oil assets in portfolio are not mere symbols or souvenirs,” Mr Lokpobiri said, adding that, “Holders of licences are obligated to drill, drill and drill for a shared benefit for the Government, Nigerians and the operators.”
He stressed that the administration is determined to ensure petroleum assets are translated into tangible economic value, noting that licences are time-bound rights granted solely for productive use.
“These assets belong to the Federal Government, and licences are granted strictly for a defined period for productive use, not passive ownership,” the minister said. “Our licensing framework is designed to eliminate speculation and ensure that only serious, capable investors participate.”
Mr Lokpobiri also issued a strong caution to bidders seeking to participate in the 2025 licensing round, urging them to fully understand the process and obligations before submitting bids.
“As prospects take part in this bid round, a clear understanding of the modus operandi guiding the process is essential,” he said, recalling previous bid rounds where some winners attempted to reverse their commitments.
“Past experiences have shown instances where some winning bidders sought refunds based on unmet expectations or perceived asset limitations,” Lokpobiri stated. “Such actions are untenable, as there is no provision in law for the refund of a bid already won.”
According to him, the conference was convened to remove ambiguity and protect the integrity of the licensing system, stressing that the government would strictly enforce all contractual obligations arising from the process.
“This conference serves to provide clarity upfront,” he said. “Participants must be fully informed, deliberate and committed, as the Government will uphold the sanctity of the process and enforce all obligations.”
The minister’s remarks reinforce the Federal Government’s broader push to accelerate upstream development, boost production and attract only technically and financially capable investors into Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, amid renewed licensing activity under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
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