By Dipo Olowookere

The local stock exchange reversed the previous day’s loss, with a 2.10 per cent surge on Friday as a result of demand for large-cap equities like Dangote Cement, First Holdco and others.

It was observed that apart from the insurance counter, which shed 0.37 per cent, every other sector closed higher yesterday.

The industrial goods index expanded by 7.26 per cent, the banking segment increased by 3.35 per cent, the consumer goods industry rose by 0.21 per cent, and the energy sector soared by 0.14 per cent.

Consequently, the All-Share Index (ASI) of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited improved by 5,041.22 points to 244,775.83 points from 239,734.61 points, and the market capitalisation added N3.235 trillion to settle at N157.094 trillion compared with the preceding session’s N153.859 trillion.

The quintet of Neimeth, Cadbury Nigeria, LivingTrust Mortgage Bank, Mecure, and Dangote Cement led the advancers’ table on Friday, with 10.00 per cent growth each to quote at N9.90, N72.60, N3.52, N72.60, and N1,088.00, respectively.

On the flip side, the duo of UAC Nigeria and Industrial and Medical Gases lost 10.00 per cent each to sell for N171.00 and N42.30, respectively, as Eterna declined by 9.93 per cent to N33.55, Learn Africa slipped by 9.89 per cent to N8.20, and Deap Capital tripped by 9.69 per cent to N5.50.

The most active stock for the day was VFD Group, with a turnover of 102.9 million units valued at N1.1 billion. FCMB transacted 99.4 million units worth N1.1 billion, UBA traded 94.5 million units for N3.8 billion, Access Holdings exchanged 85.4 million units worth N2.0 billion, and Zenith Bank sold 46.5 million units valued at N5.8 billion.

At the close of trades, market participants traded 1.1 billion units worth N55.0 billion in 69,996 deals, in contrast to the 1.8 billion units valued at N72.2 billion transacted in 81,131 deals a day earlier, showing a crash in the trading volume, value, and number of deals by 38.89 per cent, 23.82 per cent, and 13.73 per cent, respectively.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Naira fell against the US Dollar by N5.54 or 0.41 per cent to N1,361.39/$1 from N1,355.85/$1 in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEX) on Friday, May 8.

The domestic currency also depreciated against the Pound Sterling in the official market during the session by N8.50 to trade at N1,853.68/£1 compared with the previous day’s N1,845.18/£1, and against the Euro, it lost N9.37 to sell for N1,602.63/€1 versus N1,593.26/€1.

However, at the GTBank FX desk, the Nigerian Naira appreciated against the US Dollar yesterday by N3 to quote at N1,372/$1 compared with Thursday’s closing value of N1,375/$1, and at the parallel market, it traded flat at N1,380/$1.

Despite the volatile outcome of the local currency, it remained within the expected trading range, reflecting sustained FX stabilisation efforts by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), supported by improved liquidity, stronger autonomous inflows, and better price discovery.

Traders point to further gains for the Naira into the coming week, thanks to Dollar supply from foreign investors, exporters ‌and oil companies, while demand is moderate. Nigerian yields are still attractive for foreign investors, serving as a basis for more (FX) flows coming to Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the country’s external reserves dropped by 3.4 per cent to $48.32 billion, from a 2009 high of $50.02 billion recorded on March 11.

In the cryptocurrency market, prices rallied after worries eased, following fresh US airstrikes in Iran that initially sparked a surge in oil prices and a broader risk-off move across crypto markets.

Bitcoin (BTC) added 0.8 per cent to sell at $80,212.54, Solana (SOL) gained 6.5 per cent to sell at $93.76, Cardano (ADA) appreciated by 5.1 per cent to $0.2749, Dogecoin (DOGE) grew by 3.7 per cent to $0.1102, and Ripple (XRP) rose by 3.1 per cent to $1.42.

Further, Binance Coin (BNB) jumped 2.3 per cent to $650.16, Ethereum (ETH) expanded by 1.6 per cent to $2,315.48, and TRON (TRX) increased by 0.1 per cent to $0.3515, while the US Dollar Tether (USDT) and the US Dollar Coin (USDC) remained unchanged at $1.00 apiece.

By Adedapo Adesanya

Brent crude futures rose by $1.23 or 1.23 per cent to $101.29 per barrel on Friday as the market weighed the aftermath of the US and Iran trading air strikes, while shipping in the Strait of Hormuz remained largely shut.

Also, the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures went up by 61 cents of 0.64 per cent to $95.42 a barrel, as American and Iranian forces clashed in the Gulf, with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) coming ​under renewed attack amid wait for a response from Iran by the US to its proposal to end the conflict, which began with joint US-Israeli ‌airstrikes across ⁠Iran on February 28.

US President Donald Trump, later on Thursday, told reporters the ceasefire was still in effect and sought to play down the exchange.

However, on Friday, President Trump renewed an ultimatum demanding Iran give up its nuclear ambitions.

Analysts say the oil market is stuck between hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough between the US and Iran and fears of renewed conflict. Some noted that traders expect either progress in negotiations or another escalation in fighting, keeping prices unstable as markets wait for a clearer direction.

However, they added that oil prices are currently reacting heavily to headlines rather than market fundamentals. While tensions remain high, oil shipments through the Persian Gulf have not faced major disruptions, leaving traders cautiously optimistic but uncertain.

Meanwhile, the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission is investigating oil price trades totalling $7 billion placed shortly ahead of key Iran war-related announcements by President Trump.

US forces struck two empty Iranian-flagged oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman on Friday. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the vessels were attempting to violate the American naval blockade around Iranian ports.

According to CENTCOM, fighter aircraft disabled both tankers by firing precision munitions into their smokestacks. A third Iranian-flagged vessel had already been disabled earlier this week.