Economy
Navigating the Complex World of Investing: What Novices Need to Know
Have you finally decided to take the leap into the exciting arena of investing? Not only is this an excellent way to secure a lucrative nest egg for the future, but many have begun to use these opportunities as a springboard for their businesses.
However, appreciating the intricacies of online trading is no easy task. A great deal of preparation will be required and mistakes can occur on occasion. This is why knowing where to begin is one of the best ways to establish strong foundations. Let us therefore cut through a fair amount of “fluff” and examine a handful of strategies that have already been embraced by experts.
Determine How Much You Can Comfortably Afford to Invest
Comfort is king (and queen) in terms of investing. It is always prudent to establish how much you can afford to trade at any given time. You might otherwise stretch your finances too thin and suffer from a lack of liquidity (especially if you have become involved with long-term positions).
Many experts recommend placing no more than ten percent of your available capital into an investment at any given time. Even if losses do occur, you will not be placed in fiscal jeopardy. This also helps to avoid mistakes that can be made when trading based on emotions as opposed to pragmatism and logic.
Consistency is Key
As opposed to other online articles that you might have encountered from time to time, the chances of becoming a millionaire overnight are virtually non-existent. Any successful investor understands that accruing liquidity requires time and effort. This is when the power of consistency comes into play. Set a trading schedule and stick to it. One novel way to develop this level of clarity is to employ an economic calendar. These handy tools will enable you to prioritise specific positions and to appreciate how your individual investments are performing from a longitudinal perspective.
Balance Your Portfolio
All of us aim to achieve a balanced lifestyle and this is just as relevant in terms of investing. Any type of trading portfolio should hold a number of different asset classes at any give time. Examples include traditional stocks, commodities… Even if one asset happens to perform poorly, the gains associated with others can be used to mitigate any potential losses. This is sometimes referred to as “hedging” within financial circles. It may also be wise to work in tandem with a third-party wealth management firm. These companies will provide targeted recommendations based on your short- and long-term goals. Thus, it can serve as a helping hand even for expert investors.
Set Realistic Milestones
What is it that you are ultimately trying to achieve? Are you solely interested in short-term profits or might you instead wish to develop a well-rounded retirement package? Note that clearly establishing your goals will have a profound impact upon the types of investments that you make as well as the most appropriate asset classes. For instance, those who view their investments from a multi-year perspective might gravitate toward holdings such as shares in Apple or precious metals, as they normally are more stable than other alternatives.
Having said this, be realistic with your goals. Appreciate that even seasoned veterans have accrued wealth over decades as opposed to relying upon luck or the movement associated with a handful of trades. Establishing practical milestones will also enable you to gauge your progress and to make any changes that may be warranted. This likewise brings us to the final point.
View Errors as Learning Experiences as Opposed to Setbacks
Experts such as Warren Buffett are well aware of the fact that errors can and will emerge from time to time. Novice investors are essentially left with two choices. They can either walk away from a position or use the scenario to further hone their talents. Mistakes represent some of the most lucrative learning opportunities if viewed in a constructive manner, even if it sounds too difficult to understand just after they were made.
As more people begin to understand the advantages that online investing can offer, we should expect to witness an influx of younger traders who are eager for success. Still, Rome was not built in a day. The good news is that there are countless resources to be found across the Internet if you are keen to learn more. Furthermore, do not hesitate to bookmark this article for future reference if desired.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The Stanbic IBTC Bank Nigeria Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for the Nigerian private sector in July 2026 contracted to 52.5 points from 53.4 points in June 2026, a statement made available to Business Post has shown.
This occurred despite the business environment sustaining its growth last month, with an increase in new orders experienced, as inflationary pressures softened, and output and employment modestly rising.
The Head of Equity Research West Africa at Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr Muyiwa Oni, said the PMI indicated that the private sector recorded its slowest since March 2026, as businesses also increased their input purchasing activity to keep up with current demand requirements and prepare for future workloads.
“Nigerian businesses reported improved customer demand in July while better pricing and new product launches also helped them to capture new orders arising from the increase in demand. These factors helped to keep the private sector activity in an expansionary territory, although this moderated when compared to June,” he was quoted as saying.
It was stated that while input costs increased at their slowest pace in five months, panellists reported higher costs for fuel and raw materials. Selling prices also softened in line with the picture for input costs in July.
Headline inflation eased slightly to 15.91 per cent y/y in June from 15.93 per cent y/y in May, snapping three consecutive months of price increases.
Although July inflation is likely to be higher m/m, it is expected to print lower, likely at 15.72 per cent y/y, primarily driven by favourable base effects from the corresponding period of last year, because there are no expectations of the magnitude of m/m inflation witnessed in July 2025 (1.99 per cent) to materialise this year.
“We retain our 2026 growth forecasts at 4.1 per cent as we see the oil sector growing by 3.45 per cent y/y in 2026, from 8.50 per cent y/y in 2025, while the non-oil sector is likely to grow by 4.11 per cent y/y, from 3.71 per cent y/y in 2025.
“The risks to our outlook include country-wide insecurity which may constrain food production, exchange rate pressures resurfacing, extreme-weather related conditions and higher fertiliser prices impacting crop yield, and a volatile global environment which may affect sentiment and constrain capital flows,” Mr Oni noted.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Sahara Upstream, a Nigeria-focused crude producer, has deployed a new 380,000-barrel tanker to boost exports from the OML 18 block as part of a wider push by domestic operators to invest in infrastructure and lift output and exports for Africa’s biggest oil producer.
The MT D Adesanya, which can hold more than 62,000 cubic metres of crude, will operate alongside the MT D Bayero, receiving crude from shuttle vessels at Bonny Anchorage, one of Nigeria’s main crude export hubs, before transferring it to the FSO Cawthorne storage facility.
Sahara said the tanker would help cut turnaround times, currently about 30 to 48 hours, and support a planned 50 per cent increase in exports from the block’s current level of about 950,000 barrels per month.
The block currently produces about 36,000 barrels per day, according to data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), with Sahara targeting output of 60,000 barrels per day.
OML 18 is one of the Niger Delta’s oldest producing assets. It began production in 1970 and contains an estimated 1.5 billion barrels of oil equivalent in reserves.
Shell, Total and Eni sold their combined interests to Eroton in 2015 as part of a broader shift toward domestic ownership in Nigeria’s upstream sector.
This development comes as Sahara Upstream is deepening its exploration and production footprint through Asharami Energy Limited (AEL), its upstream E&P business, which says it is targeting 350,000 barrels of oil per day by 2030 through its subsidiary, Enageed Resources Limited (ERL).
The growth target comes as AEL also marks a major safety milestone, achieving 6 million Lost Time Injury (LTI)-free man-hours in its OML-148 operations — reinforcing the company’s commitment to operational excellence and safety leadership.
According to Asharami Energy, the milestone reflects its ability to execute complex operations safely, in line with Sahara’s Beyond XXX vision, which builds on the group’s 30-year legacy of responsible enterprise while marking its next chapter of impact, innovation, and sustainable growth.
The developments position Sahara Upstream and its subsidiaries among the domestic operators driving increased investment in Nigeria’s oil and gas infrastructure, as the group works to scale up production and exports for Africa’s biggest oil producer.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
One of the leading energy firms in Nigeria, Aradel Holdings Plc, has expressed its desire to optimise its enlarged portfolio and improve operational efficiency in the second half of 2026.
The company is planning to build on the success it recorded in the first half of the year, where it grew its revenue by 577 per cent to N2.5 trillion from N368.1 billion in H1 2025.
The significant rise in earnings was driven by higher production volumes together with stronger realised crude oil and gas prices, with the average at $90.4/bbl and $2.08/mmscf, respectively.
In the period under review, the Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) increased by 688 per cent to N1.4 trillion from N176.4 billion in the corresponding period of last year, while the operating profit surged by 789 per cent to N1.1 trillion from N118.6 billion due to higher revenue and crude handling income at N149.8 billion, partly offset by underlift cost and general and administrative costs.
The net cash generated from operations was N975.6 billion between January and June 2026 versus N140.8 billion in the same period of 2025, reflecting the cash generation of the enlarged organisation.
The net debt contracted by 70 per cent on a year-to-date basis to N46.5 billion from N475.1 billion as of December 31, 2025.
Aradel, in the period under consideration, improved its post-tax profit by 30 per cent to N191.0 billion from N146.4 billion, a development that impressed its chief executive, Mr Adegbite Falade, who said, “A firmer price environment supported performance, generating net cash from operating activities of N975.6 billion and a closing cash balance of N1.7 trillion.”
“Our enlarged portfolio provides more opportunities to generate stronger cash flow and returns for shareholders and unlocking that potential is our main focus.
“We reaffirm our full year production guidance of 110 – 140 kboepd and remain committed to operating responsibly in a changing energy landscape and to delivering lasting value for our stakeholders,” he stated.
