Economy

Reaction to ECB Likely to Drive Trading on Wall Street

Published

9 years ago

21/07/2017

By Investors Hub

The major U.S. index futures are pointing to a modestly lower opening on Friday following the lackluster performance seen in the previous session.

Trading activity on the day may be somewhat subdued, with a lack of major U.S. economic data keeping some traders on the sidelines.

Uncertainty about the near-term outlook for the markets may also contribute to choppy trading following the recent move to record highs by the major averages.

Earnings news is likely to attract attention, however, with several big-name companies recently releasing the quarterly results.

Stocks showed a lack of direction over the course of the trading session on Thursday, with the major averages bouncing back and forth across the unchanged line. Despite the lackluster performance, the tech-heavy Nasdaq reached a new record closing high.

The major averages finished the day on opposite sides of the unchanged line. While the Nasdaq inched up 4.96 points or 0.1 percent to 6,390.00, the Dow dipped 28.97 points or 0.1 percent to 21,611.78 and the S&P 500 edged down 0.38 points or less than a tenth of a percent to 2,473.45.

The choppy trading on Wall Street partly reflected uncertainty about the outlook for the markets after the major averages reached new record closing highs on Wednesday.

Traders were also digesting the European Central Bank’s monetary policy decision, with the bank leaving its key interest rates unchanged.

The ECB also reiterated its plan to purchase 60 billion euros worth of government bonds and other assets each month through December, or beyond, if necessary.

Additionally, the ECB noted it stands ready to increase the program in terms of size or duration if the outlook becomes less favorable.

ECB President Mario Draghi indicated in his subsequent press conference that the asset purchase program would continue until there is a sustained adjustment in the path of inflation consistent with the bank’s target.

On the U.S. economic front, a report released by the Labor Department showed a much bigger than expected decrease in first-time claims for U.S. unemployment benefits in the week ended July 15th.

The report said initial jobless claims fell to 233,000, a decrease of 15,000 from the previous week’s revised level of 248,000. Economists had expected jobless claims to edge down to 245,000.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia also released a report showing that regional manufacturing activity grew at a notably slower rate in the month of July.

The Philly Fed said its index for current manufacturing activity in the region slumped to 19.5 in July from 27.6 in June.

While a positive reading still indicates growth in regional manufacturing activity, economists had expected the index to show a much more modest drop to 24.0.

Meanwhile, the Conference Board said its index of leading economic indicators rose by more than expected in the month of June.

The Conference Board said its leading economic index climbed by 0.6 percent in June after rising by a revised 0.2 percent in May. Economists had expected the index to rise by 0.4 percent

Telecom stocks showed a significant move to the downside on the day, dragging the NYSE Arca Telecom Index down by 2.1 percent. With the drop, the index fell to its lowest closing level in a year.

Communications chip maker Qualcomm (QCOM) posted a notable loss after reporting third quarter results that beat estimates but providing disappointing guidance.

Considerable weakness was also visible among trucking stocks, as reflected by the 2.1 loss posted by the Dow Jones Trucking Index. C.H. Robinson (CHRW) led the trucking sector lower after reporting second quarter earnings that came in below analyst estimates.

Railroad and oil service stocks also came under pressure on the day, while notable strength was visible among biotechnology and pharmaceutical stocks.

Within the biotech sector, Sarepta Therapeutics (SRPT) moved sharply higher after the biopharmaceutical company reported a narrower than expected second quarter loss.

Economy

Four Securities Erase N51.17bn from NASD Exchange

Published

1 day ago

27/06/2026

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

Four securities weakened the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange by 1.95 per cent on Friday, erasing N41.17 billion from the bourse, which had its market capitalisation at N2.567 trillion compared with the previous session’s N2.618 trillion.

In the same vein, the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) decreased at the close of business by 85.28 points to 4,277.07 points from 4,362.32 points.

The price decliners were led by 11 Plc, which gave up N20.50 to sell at N200.50 per share compared with the preceding day’s N221.00 per share, FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc dropped N16.94 to close at N155.20 per unit versus Thursday’s closing price of N172.14 per unit, Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc went down by N2.11 to N84.68 per share from N86.79 per share, and Afriland Properties Plc lost 11 Kobo to end at N16.74 per unit, in contrast to the N16.85 per unit it closed a day earlier.

During the trading day, the value of transactions jumped by 172.1 per cent to N29.9 million from the preceding session’s N10.9 million, and the volume of trades soared by 136.5 per cent to 955,096 units from the previous 403,901 units, while the number of deals went down by 11.4 per cent to 31 deals from 35 deals.

Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Plc remained the most active stock by value on a year-to-date basis, with 3.4 billion units valued at N8.4 billion, followed by Infrastructure Credit Guarantee (Infracredit) Plc with 2.3 billion units worth N6.5 billion, and CSCS Plc with 68.6 million units sold for N4.7 billion.

GNI Plc also ended the session as the most traded stock by volume on a year-to-date basis, with 3.4 billion units exchanged for N8.4 billion, trailed by Infracredit Plc with 2.3 billion units traded for N6.5 billion, and Resourcery Plc with 1.1 billion units transacted for N415.7 million.

Economy

Cautious Trading, Profit-taking Weaken Nigeria’s Stock Exchange by 0.66%

Published

1 day ago

27/06/2026

Dipo Olowookere

By Dipo Olowookere

The last trading session of this week on the floor of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited ended on a negative note, with a 0.66 per cent loss on Friday.

This was influenced by sustained selling pressure and cautious trading, which forced investors into profit-taking.

Data obtained by Business Post showed that the energy sector fell by 4.66 per cent, the insurance counter dipped by 2.23 per cent, the consumer goods index depreciated by 0.96 per cent, and the banking segment shed 0.28 per cent, while the industrial goods space remained unchanged.

At the close of business, the All-Share Index (ASI) of Nigeria’s stock exchange went down by 1,531.81 points to 232,049.02 points from 233,580.83 points, and the market capitalisation dropped N983 billion to settle at N148.905 trillion compared with Thursday’s N149.888 trillion.

Aradel was the worst-performing equity after it lost 10.00 per cent to close at N1,417.50. International Energy Insurance slipped by 9.95 per cent to N5.79, Trans-Nationwide Express depreciated by 9.89 per cent to N3.28, eTranzact crashed by 9.79 per cent to N14.75, and UPDC slumped by 9.72 per cent to N28.12.

The best-performing equity for the day was Universal Insurance, which gained 6.32 per cent to close at N1.01, McNichols grew by 5.52 per cent to N8.60, Linkage Assurance expanded by 4.67 per cent to N1.57, NGX Group appreciated by 4.35 per cent to N120.00, and Transcorp increased by 3.62 per cent to N41.50.

As look at the activity level indicated that investors traded 388.7 million stocks worth N18.4 billion in 44,631 deals compared with the 393.7 million stocks valued at N19.2 billion executed in 45,813 deals a day earlier, representing a decline in the trading volume, value, and number of deals by 1.27 per cent, 4.17 per cent, and 2.58 per cent, respectively.

Economy

Official FX Market Sees Naira Dip to N1,380.93/$1

Published

1 day ago

27/06/2026

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Naira recorded a loss of 82 Kobo or 0.06 per cent against the United States Dollar in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEX) on Friday, June 26, exchanging at N1,380.93/$1, in contrast to the previous day’s rate of N1,380.11/$1.

Equally, the domestic currency further weakened against the Pound Sterling in the official FX market yesterday by N6.06 to settle at N1,824.90/£1 versus the preceding session’s N1,818.84/£1, and lost N10.74 on the Euro to sell at N1,577 .58/€1 versus N1,566.84/€1.

At the GTBank forex counter, the Naira depreciated against the greenback during the session by N4 to close at N1,387/$1, in contrast to Thursday’s value of N1,383/$1, and at the parallel market, it was unchanged at N1,395/$1.

Interbank FX activity among financial institutions has fluctuated amid a sharp slowdown in forex market interventions by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), as it allows demand and supply to move the market.

Also, a stronger greenback has generally put significant pressure on emerging-market currencies.

Nigeria has accessed the first tranche of a proposed $5 billion derivatives financing arrangement with First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC, the largest lender in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The $5 billion facility, approved by the National Assembly earlier this year, is part of the federal government’s plan to diversify external financing sources and reduce borrowing costs. Structured as a Total Return Swap with First Abu Dhabi Bank, proceeds are earmarked for refinancing debt and supporting infrastructure financing.

If the proceeds are brought into the country through the official FX market, the transaction will increase the currency reserves or Dollar liquidity.

At the cryptocurrency market, Solana (SOL) grew by 2.2 per cent to $71.92, Cardano (ADA) gained 1.1 per cent to trade at $0.1474, Ripple (XRP) also appreciated by 1.1 per cent to $1.05, Dogecoin (DOGE) expanded by 0.9 per cent to $0.0755, and Ethereum (ETH) improved by 0.4 per cent to $1,578.84.

On the flip side, TRON (TRX) slid 0.6 per cent to $0.3203, Binance Coin (BNB) slumped by 0.3 per cent to $564.33, and Bitcoin fell by 0.2 per cent to $60,219.37, while the US Dollar Tether (USDT) and the US Dollar Coin (USDC) traded flat at $1.00 each.