Economy

Nigeria’s Forex Inflow Grows 121% in 5 Months, Hits 14.5b

Published

9 years ago

20/07/2017

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Data released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has revealed that the foreign exchange inflow into the country from January to May 2017 rose to $14.53 billion.

This, it said, represents 121 percent increase when compared with $6.57 billion recorded from January to May in 2016.

Vanguard analysis of the monthly economic reports of the apex bank revealed that foreign exchange outflow through the CBN, however, increased marginally by 5.8 percent to $9.09 billion within same period this year, compared to the $8.59 billion recorded as outflow same period last year.

Consequently, the apex bank recorded net foreign exchange inflow of $5.4 billion in the first five months of this year, up by 367 percent from net outflow of $2.02 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2016.

Further details, however, revealed that foreign exchange inflow into the CBN has been fluctuating since February when it peaked at $5.1 billion.

In March it dropped to $1.63 billion, rose to $2.87 billion in April but dropped again to $2.26 billion in May.

On the other hand, foreign exchange outflow from the apex bank has been on the upward trend since the beginning of the year.

In January 2017 foreign exchange outflow from the apex bank rose to $1.18 billion, in February, $1.67 billion in March, $2.16 billion in April, and $3.02 billion in May.

Consequently CBN recorded the first net foreign exchange outflow of $761 million in May.

This, according to the CBN, was due to decline on crude oil prices. Also it indicated the bullish interventions in the supply side of the interbank foreign exchange market since March this year was taking a toll on the forex resources.

Providing details of foreign exchange inflow and outflow in May, CBN said, “The external sector weakened in May 2017 due to the decline in crude oil prices from an average of $52.90 per barrel in April 2017 to $51.04 per barrel.

Increased shale oil production in the United States and supply by non-members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) both contributed to the fall in crude oil prices.

Consequently, foreign exchange inflow through the CBN, at $2.26 billion, declined by 21.4 percent below the level in the preceding month, but was 27.0 per cent above the level in the corresponding period of 2016.

The decline relative to the level in the preceding month was driven by fall in both oil and non-oil proceeds.

“Aggregate outflow of foreign exchange through the bank at $3.02 billion, increased by 39.6 percent and 78.7 percent above $2.16 billion and $1.69 billion in the preceding month and the corresponding period of 2016 respectively.

“The development was driven by outflow through foreign exchange special payment, drawings on letters of credit, inter-bank utilization and external debt service. Overall, the net outflow through the bank in the month of May 2017 was $0.76 billion, in contrast to a net inflow of US$0.71 billion and $0.09 billion recorded in the preceding month and the corresponding period of 2016, respectively.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/07/forex-inflow-sharp-rise-cbn-records-14-5bn-5-months/

Economy

NGX Key Performance Indicators Rebound 0.04%

Published

2 hours ago

17/01/2026

Dipo Olowookere

By Dipo Olowookere

About 0.04 per cent was recovered on Friday from the loss recorded by the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) the previous due to profit-taking.

Yesterday, investors were in the market with renewed vigour, mopping up stocks trading at relatively cheaper prices.

According to data, the insurance counter gained 0.41 per cent, the banking sector appreciated by 0.38 per cent, and the consumer goods index grew by 0.14 per cent.

The gains achieved by these three sectors were enough to lift Customs Street at the close of business despite the 0.26 per cent decline printed by the industrial goods segment and the 0.14 per cent loss suffered by the energy industry. The commodity counter was flat during the session.

A total of 43 equities gained weight on the last trading day of this week, while 26 equities shed weight, indicating a positive market breadth index and strong investor sentiment.

Red Star Express increased its share price by 10.00 per cent to N13.20, NCR Nigeria grew by 9.97 per cent to N128.55, SCOA Nigeria inflated by 9.96 per cent to N14.90, Omatek appreciated by 9.94 per cent to N1.77, and Deap Capital expanded by 9.85 per cent to N4.46.

On the flip side, McNichols decreased by 8.81 per cent to N6.00, Legend Internet crumbled by 7.56 per cent to N5.50, Cornerstone Insurance crashed by 6.48 per cent to N6.35, C&I Leasing contracted by 6.29 per cent to N8.20, and Austin Laz slipped by 5.78 per cent to N3.75.

Yesterday, 539.9 million shares valued at N16.7 billion were transacted in 48,023 deals versus the 1.0 billion shares worth N31.6 billion executed in 51,227 deals in the preceding day, implying a shrink in the trading volume, value, and number of deals by 46.01 per cent, 47.15 per cent, and 6.26 per cent apiece.

Zenith Bank was the most active for the day with 54.6 million stocks sold for N3.8 billion, Jaiz Bank traded 41.5 million units worth N359.4 million, Secure Electronic Technology transacted 37.7 million units valued at N39.2 million, Access Holdings exchanged 30.5 million units for N699.2 million, and Lasaco Assurance transacted 27.2 million units worth N68.3 million.

When the market closed for the day, the All-Share Index (ASI) went up by 72.21 points to 166,129.50 points from 166,057.29 points and the market capitalisation gained N31 billion to N106.354 trillion from N106.323 trillion.

Economy

Naira Trades N1,417/$1 at Official Market, N1,485/$1 at Black Market

Published

3 hours ago

17/01/2026

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

It was a positive ending for the Naira this week after it further appreciated against the US Dollar in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEX) on Friday, January 16 by N1.33 or 0.09 per cent to sell for N1,417.95/$1 compared with the previous day’s N1,419.28/$1.

The domestic currency also gained N2.41 against the Euro in the official market to close at N1,647.51/€1 versus the preceding session’s closing price of N1,649.92/€1, however, it suffered a N7.97 loss against the Pound Sterling in the same market window to trade at N1,901.32/£1, in contrast to Thursday’s closing price of N1,893.35/£1.

In the same vein, the Nigerian Naira depleted against the Dollar at the GTBank FX counter by N2 to quote at N1,427/$1 compared with the previous day’s N1,425/$1, but strengthened against the greenback at the black market yesterday by N5 to settle at N1,485/$1 versus the N1,490/$1 it was exchanged a day earlier.

Improved supply conditions helped keep the market within range as exporters’ and importers’ inflows in addition to non-bank corporate supply enhanced liquidity as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) made no visible intervention.

Stronger external inflows from foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) and improving current account dynamics, continue to align with structural support in the wider economy.

Nigeria has seen projections of a stronger economic or gross domestic product (GDP) growth and lower inflation in 2026, with these forecasts citing improved macroeconomic fundamentals and reform impacts.

As for the cryptocurrency market, it was mixed following selloff in precious metals and lower US stocks appeared to be denting crypto sentiment.

Gold and silver, both of which also enjoyed big rallies earlier this week, tumbled 1.2 per cent and 5 per cent, respectively while key US stock indexes — the Nasdaq, S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average — all reversed from early gains to modest losses in Friday trade.

Dogecoin (DOGE) shrank by 2.2 per cent to $0.1370, Ripple (XRP) slipped by 0.8 per cent to $2.05, Ethereum (ETH) went down by 0.7 per cent to $3,228.56, and Bitcoin (BTC) slumped by 0.6 per cent to $95,086.80.

Conversely, Litecoin (LTC) appreciated by 3.2 per cent to $74.48, Solana (SOL) rose by 0.4 per cent to $143.70, Cardano (ADA) jumped by 0.2 per cent to $0.3942, and Binance Coin (BNB) increased by 0.1 per cent to $935.88, while the US Dollar Tether (USDT) and the US Dollar Coin (USDC) remained unchanged at $1.00 each.

Economy

Oil Prices Rise Amid Lingering Iran Worries

Published

3 hours ago

17/01/2026

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

Oil prices settled higher amid lingering worries about a possible US military strike against Iran, a decision that may still occur over the weekend.

Brent crude settled at $64.13 a barrel after going up by 37 cents or 0.58 per cent and the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude finished at $59.44 a barrel after it gained 25 cents or 0.42 per cent.

The US Navy’s aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln was expected to arrive in the Persian Gulf next week after operating in the South China Sea.

Market analysts noted that it doesn’t seem likely anything will happen soon. However, the weekends have become the perfect time for actions so as not offset the markets.

The market had risen after protests flared up in Iran and US President Donald Trump signalled the potential for military strikes, but lost over 4 per cent on Thursday as the American president said Iran’s crackdown on the protesters was easing, allaying concerns of possible military action that could disrupt oil supplies.

Iran produces approximately 3.2 million barrels per day, accounting for roughly 4 per cent of global crude production, so it was not a coincidence that markets rallied sharply through Tuesday and Wednesday as President Trump canceled meetings with Iranian officials and posted that “help is on its way” to Iranian protesters, raising fears of potential US military strikes that sent prices surging toward multi-month highs.

Weighing against those fears are potential supply increases from Venezuela.

The Trump administration is exploring plans to swap heavy Venezuelan crude for US medium sour barrels that can actually go straight into Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) caverns, since not all all oil belongs in the reserve.

According to Reuters, the Department of Energy is considering moving Venezuelan heavy crude into commercial storage at the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port, while US producers deliver medium sour crude into the SPR in exchange.

Analysts expect higher supply this year, potentially creating a ceiling for the geopolitical risk premium on prices.

Some investors covered short positions ahead of the three-day Martin Luther King holiday weekend in the US.