Economy
Oil Prices Dip as Markets Eye US-China Developments, Interest Rate Hike
By Adedapo Adesanya
Oil prices settled lower on Wednesday as investors worried about possible US interest rate hikes amid anticipation of the outcomes of a meeting between US President Donald Trump and China’s Xi Jinping.
Brent crude lost $2.14 or 2 per cent to trade at $105.63 a barrel, and the US West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell by $1.16 or 1.14 per cent to $101.02 per barrel.
Boston Federal Reserve President Susan Collins said on Wednesday the US central bank may need to raise interest rates if inflation pressures do not ease, a sign that the war has begun to weigh on the American economy.
Higher oil prices have pushed up fuel costs, and economists expect to see effects in the months ahead.
Producer prices in the US posted their biggest increase in four years in April, boosted by soaring costs for goods and services, the latest sign of accelerating inflation during the war with Iran. Also in the same month, US consumer prices rose sharply for a second straight month, producing the largest annual increase in inflation in nearly three years.
Higher interest rates increase borrowing costs for businesses and consumers, which could slow economic growth and reduce oil demand.
President Trump landed in Beijing on Wednesday, a day after saying he did not think he would need China’s help to end the war. The American President is scheduled to meet Mr Xi on Thursday and Friday.
This comes amid prospects for a lasting peace deal with Iran weakened, and the Middle East country tightened its grip over the Strait of Hormuz.
China is the biggest buyer of Iranian oil despite pressure from the Trump administration.
The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) on Wednesday lowered its forecast for world oil demand growth in 2026. The International Energy Agency (IEA) said global oil supply would not meet total demand this year as the war wreaks havoc on Middle East production.
Crude oil inventories in the US decreased by 4.3 million barrels during the week ending May 8, according to data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) released on Wednesday.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Mr Abbas Araqchi, said on Wednesday that Kuwait had attacked an Iranian boat and detained four Iranian citizens in the Gulf. He added that Iran demands their release and reserves the right to respond, raising fresh tensions in the region.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange fell by 0.30 per cent on Wednesday, May 13, extending the presence of the bourse in red.
During the session, the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) depreciated by 12.55 points to close at 4,143.97 points compared with the previous day’s 4,156.52 points, and the market capitalisation dropped N7.51 billion to settle at N2.479 trillion versus Tuesday’s closing value of N2.486 trillion.
The loss recorded yesterday occurred as the platform ended with four price gainers and four price losers.
Nipco Plc lost N34.40 to sell at N309.60 per share versus N344.00 per share, Central Securities and Clearing System (CSCS) Plc declined by N4.00 to N72.00 per unit from N76.00 per unit, NASD Plc tumbled by N2.36 to N35.00 per share from N37.36 per share, and Food Concepts Plc dipped by 24 Kobo to quote at N2.26 per unit compared with the preceding session’s N2.50 per unit.
Conversely, FrieslandCampina Wamco Plc rose by N12.74 to N146.34 per share from N133.60 per share, IPWA Plc soared by 73 Kobo to N8.03 per unit from N7.30 per unit, First Trust Mortgage Bank Plc added 20 Kobo to finish at N2.52 per share versus its previous value of N2.32 per share, and Light House Financial Service Plc gained 8 Kobo to close at 94 Kobo per unit versus 86 Kobo per unit.
Yesterday, the volume of securities slumped by 48.3 per cent to 1.4 million units from 2.7 million units, the value of securities dropped 43.6 per cent to N36.8 million from N65.2 million, and the number of deals stumbled by 16.1 per cent to 36 deals from 31 deals.
Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Plc remained the most active stock by value on a year-to-date basis with 3.4 billion units traded for N8.4 billion, followed by CSCS Plc with 60.6 million units exchanged for N4.1 billion, and Okitipupa Plc with 27.8 million units transacted for N1.9 billion.
GNI Plc also ended the day as the most traded stock by volume on a year-to-date basis with 3.4 billion units worth N8.4 billion, followed by Resourcery Plc with 1.1 billion units valued at N415.7 million, and Infrastructure Guarantee Credit Plc with 400 million units sold for N1.2 billion.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Naira ended its recent losing streak with a N5.06 or 0.37 per cent appreciation on Wednesday, May 13, in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEX), trading at N1,370.56/$1 compared with the previous day’s N1,375.62/$1.
In the same vein, the Nigerian Naira appreciated against the Pound Sterling in the official market yesterday by N21.43 to N1,87/£1 from N1,874.42/£1, and gained N16.12 against the Euro to close at N1,605.19/€1 versus N1,621.31/€1.
However, at the GTBank FX desk, it lost N8 against the greenback at midweek to sell at N1,383/$1 compared with the preceding session’s N1,375/$1, and at the parallel market, it remained unchanged at N1,385/$1.
The improvement in the value of the Naira comes as Nigeria’s external reserves, which provide the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) with buffers to support the Naira and meet external obligations, also recorded a fresh accretion.
Data published on the apex bank’s website showed that reserves rose by about $150 million or 0.2 per cent to $48.48 billion as of May 12, 2026, from $48.33 billion recorded on May 5, 2026.
Interbank turnover also climbed significantly by 75.31 per cent to $130.55 million on Wednesday compared to $74.47 million recorded the previous day. At the same time, the volume of transactions rose by 25 per cent to 130 deals on Wednesday from 104 deals recorded on Tuesday.
A look at the cryptocurrency market indicated that inflation surprises and renewed geopolitical tension over Taiwan weakened risk sentiment.
The sell pressure built around the Trump-Xi summit in Beijing, the first visit to China by a sitting US president in nearly a decade. Mr Xi pressed Mr Trump on Taiwan in their first meeting at the Great Hall of the People, warning of a potential “collision or even clashes” if the issue is mishandled.
China’s readout of Mr Xi’s remarks appeared to be released before the meeting had concluded, pushing the self-ruled island into the spotlight and rattling risk sentiment globally.
Solana (SOL) crashed by 4.3 per cent to $91.12, Cardano (ADA) depreciated by 2.6 per cent to $0.2656, Ripple (XRP) slumped by 1.6 per cent to $1.43, Bitcoin (BTC) declined by 1.5 per cent to $79,773.30, Ethereum (ETH) tumbled by 1.3 per cent to $2,266.06, and Binance Coin (BNB) slumped by 1.2 per cent to $669.40.
But Dogecoin (DOGE) appreciated by 2.5 per cent to $0.1146, and TRON (TRX) improved by 0.4 per cent to $0.3505, while the US Dollar Tether (USDT) and the US Dollar Coin (USDC) closed flat at $1.00 each.
By Dipo Olowookere
The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited cemented its position in the green territory on Wednesday with a marginal 0.04 per cent rise.
This was buoyed by sustained buying pressure on energy equities despite selling pressure on financial stocks, according to data from Customs Street.
The insurance counter was down by 0.73 per cent yesterday, and the banking index shed 0.70 per cent. These losses were offset by gains in the three other key sectors of the bourse, with the energy segment rising by 3.37 per cent. The consumer goods space appreciated by 1.94 per cent, and the industrial goods industry expanded by 0.43 per cent.
At the close of business, the All-Share Index (ASI) increased by 349.96 points to 252,508.19 points from 252,158.23 points, and the market capitalisation grew by N226 billion to N161.839 trillion from N161.613 trillion.
A total of 42 stocks appreciated during the session, while 29 stocks depreciated, implying a positive market breadth index and strong investor sentiment.
The quartet of CWG, DAAR Communications, Fidson, and Livestock Feeds gained 10.00 per cent each to sell for N23.10, N1.87, N113.00, and N10.45, respectively, while Berger Paints rose by 9.97 per cent to N140.10.
On the flip side, NCR Nigeria lost 10.00 per cent to close at N179.10, Zichis decreased by 9.99 per cent to N36.32, First Holdco shed 9.87 per cent to trade at N71.20, Neimeth dropped 9.66 per cent to N172.00, and Eterna eased by 9.59 per cent to N33.00.
At midweek, investors transacted 1.9 billion shares for N118.1 billion in 76,557 deals compared with the 2.0 billion shares worth N87.7 billion traded in 80,888 deals on Tuesday.
This showed that the value of transactions surged by 34.66 per cent, the volume of trades went down by 5.00 per cent, and the number of deals declined by 5.35 per cent.
-
Feature/OPED6 years agoDavos was Different this year
-
Travel/Tourism10 years ago
Lagos Seals Western Lodge Hotel In Ikorodu
-
Showbiz3 years agoEstranged Lover Releases Videos of Empress Njamah Bathing
-
Banking8 years agoSort Codes of GTBank Branches in Nigeria
-
Economy3 years agoSubsidy Removal: CNG at N130 Per Litre Cheaper Than Petrol—IPMAN
-
Banking3 years agoSort Codes of UBA Branches in Nigeria
-
Banking3 years agoFirst Bank Announces Planned Downtime
-
Sports3 years agoHighest Paid Nigerian Footballer – How Much Do Nigerian Footballers Earn