Economy
Over N2 Trillion Cash in Circulation—CBN
By Adedapo Adesanya
Total Currency-in-Circulation (CIC) rose by 0.8 percent to N2.3 trillion as at the end of December 2018 according to the 2018 Annual Report released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through the Currency Operations Department (COD).
This rise in circulation according to the report reflected the high dominance of cash in the economy and increase in economic activities.
In terms of volume, the proportion of higher denomination banknotes – N100, N200, N500 and N1000 in total rose from 41.9 percent to 44.3 percent while in terms of value, it rose from 96.9 percent to 97.6 percent.
On the other hand, the lower denomination currency notes – N5, N10, N20 and N50 continued to be dominant in terms of volume compared to higher notes as it constituted 55.7 percent of the total, while in value terms, it constituted only 2.4 percent of the total banknotes.
The ratio of CIC to nominal GDP, which measures the moneyness of the economy recorded slight falls by 0.1 percentage point to 1.8 percent in the period under review and according to the report, this decline occurred as a result of increase in e-payment products such as electronic payment cards.
The report also indicated that the COD during the period under review recorded significant progress in the accomplishment of its strategic objectives, which included: development of a Clean Notes Policy and Banknote Fitness Guidelines; the tiered pricing for the processing of lower denomination banknotes, increased volume of issuable banknotes and effective distribution of banknotes.
It also registered more Cash-In-Transit (CIT) and Cash Processing Companies (CPC), which encouraged private sector participation; commissioning of the temporary exhibition “Naira Our National Pride” for public enlightenment on banknote basic security features.
Other noteworthy achievements made in 2018 include the development of the Cash Activity Reporting Portal (CARP) for transmission of financial industry currency management data to Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS); approval granted by management for the establishment of mobile courts, in collaboration with Legal Services Department (LSD), for the speedy prosecution of suspects apprehended for currency-related offences; and a pilot run on recycling of banknotes waste into re-usable materials to reduce its carbon footprints and comply with environmental sustainability practices.
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.
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