Economy
Rising Tensions in Hong Kong May Lead to Pullback on Wall Street
By Investors Hub
The major U.S. index futures are currently pointing to a lower opening on Friday, with stocks likely to move back to the downside after trending higher in recent sessions.
Rising tensions in Hong Kong may weigh on Wall Street amid concerns widespread protests could impact the ability of the U.S. and China to reach a phase on trade deal.
Traders may also look to take some profits after the upward trend see over the past several sessions lifted the major averages to new record highs.
However, the markets have recently shown a resistance to giving back much ground, with traders seemingly concerned about missing out on further upside.
Overall trading activity is likely to remain subdued, as some traders to the sidelines following the holiday on Thursday.
A lack of major U.S. economic news may also contribute to light trading activity along with the early close for the markets.
Extending the upward trend seen over the past few sessions, stocks moved mostly higher over the course of the trading day on Wednesday. Buying interest was somewhat subdued, but the major averages still managed to reach new record closing highs.
The major averages all closed in positive territory, with the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 just off their highs of the session. The Dow rose 42.32 points or 0.2 percent to 28,164.00, the Nasdaq advanced 57.24 points or 0.7 percent to 8,705.18 and the S&P 500 climbed 13.11 points or 0.4 percent to 3,153.63.
The markets continued to benefit from optimism about a potential U.S.-China trade deal after President Donald Trump said trade talks are “going very well.”
“We’re in the final throes of a very important deal ? I guess you could say, one of the most important deals in trade ever,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday.
The continued strength on Wall Street also came following the release of some upbeat U.S. economic data, including a Commerce Department report showing durable goods orders unexpectedly rebounded in the month of October.
The Commerce Department said durable goods orders climbed by 0.6 percent in October after plunging by a revised 1.4 percent in September.
Economists had expected durable goods orders to decrease by 0.8 percent compared to the 1.2 percent slump that had been reported for the previous month.
Separately, revised data released by the Commerce Department showed the U.S. economy grew by more than initially estimated in the third quarter.
The Commerce Department said real gross domestic product jumped by 2.1 percent in the third quarter compared to the previously estimated 1.9 percent increase. Economists had expected the pace of GDP growth to be unrevised.
The stronger than previous estimated growth reflected upward revisions to private inventory investment, non-residential fixed investment, and consumer spending.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Realtors released a report unexpectedly showing a sharp pullback in U.S. pending home sales in the month of October.
NAR said its pending home sales index plunged by 1.7 percent to 106.7 in October after surging up by 1.4 percent to a revised 108.6 in September.
Economists had expected pending home sales to climb by 0.8 percent compared to the 1.5 percent jump originally reported for the previous month.
A pending home sale is one in which a contract was signed but not yet closed. Normally, it takes four to six weeks to close a contracted sale.
The Commerce Department also released a separate report showing U.S. personal income came in nearly flat in the month of October, although personal spending rose in line with economist estimates.
Late in the trading day, the Federal Reserve released its Beige Book, which said U.S. economic activity expanded modestly from October through mid-November.
The Beige Book, a compilation of anecdotal evidence on economic conditions in the twelve Fed districts, noted economic growth continued at a similar pace to the prior reporting period.
Trading activity was relatively light, however, as some traders looked to get a head start on the Thanksgiving Day holiday on Thursday.
Oil service stocks moved sharply higher over the course of the trading session, driving the Philadelphia Oil Service Index up by 2 percent. The strength among oil service stocks came despite a decrease by the price of crude oil.
Significant strength was also visible among tobacco stocks, with the NYSE Arca Tobacco Index climbing by 1.2 percent to its best closing level in over two months.
Natural gas and biotechnology stocks also saw considerable strength on the day, while most of the other major sectors showed more modest moves.
By Dipo Olowookere
The domestic stock exchange rebounded by 0.05 per cent on Wednesday on the back of renewed bargain-hunting by investors, though the level of activity waned.
After bleeding for a few days, the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited heaved a sigh of relief yesterday, as the All-Share Index (ASI) gained 109.41 points to close at 244,912.24 points compared with the previous day’s 244,802.83 points, and the market capitalisation garnered N71 billion to settle at N158.087 trillion versus Tuesday’s N158.016 trillion.
Business Post reports that despite the rebound recorded by Customs Street at midweek, the market breadth index remained negative, as there were 20 price advancers and 29 price decliners, implying bearish investor sentiment.
Linkage Assurance appreciated by 9.94 per cent to N1.77, AVA Capital rose by 9.55 per cent to N10.90, Fortis Global Insurance advanced by 7.69 per cent to N2.80, McNichols gained 7.34 per cent to finish at N5.85, and Coronation Insurance surged by 5.51 per cent to N2.49.
Conversely, Honeywell Flour depreciated by 9.94 per cent to N16.30, PZ Cussons gave up 9.94 per cent to trade at N74.75, Zichis crashed by 9.74 per cent to N20.76, Learn Africa slipped by 9.62 per cent to N9.40, and Neimeth tumbled by 8.33 per cent to N8.25.
The busiest equity was FCMB, with a turnover of 369.2 million units valued at N4.1 billion. Chams transacted 46.7 million units worth N201.8 million, First Holdco transacted 43.5 million units for N5.7 billion, Access Holdings sold 29.8 million units worth N778.0 million, and Linkage Assurance exchanged 19.6 million units valued at N33.5 million.
At the close of transactions, market participants bought and sold 824.1 million units worth N25.5 billion in 48,114 deals, in contrast to the 1.6 billion units sold for N28.7 billion in 54,160 deals a day earlier, showing a shortfall in the trading volume, value, and number of deals by 48.49 per cent, 11.15 per cent, and 11.16 per cent, respectively.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The crude oil market was mixed on Wednesday as investors weighed revived expectations of a de-escalation in United States-Iran hostilities.
Brent crude futures gained 9 cents or 0.11 per cent to trade at $79.45 a barrel, while the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures fell by 55 cents or 0.73 per cent to $75.22 per barrel.
US President Donald Trump previously said there was an “all-day negotiation” with Iran, characterizing the talks positively while also threatening to hit the country “really hard” if a deal was not reached.
Meanwhile, Iran denied that peace talks were under way. Its Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that Iran and Oman have reached an understanding on how to manage the Strait of Hormuz.
It was reported that the decision was awaiting a decision from Iran’s supreme leader after Iranian and Omani negotiators completed a draft agreement that could reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the main export route for Persian Gulf oil and LNG. Also, a joint announcement is being finalized.
The proposed temporary arrangement would direct ships entering the Persian Gulf through waters controlled by Iran, while vessels leaving the Gulf would use a route administered by Oman. The agreement would revive parts of the US-Iran memorandum reached in June, which collapsed after attacks on shipping resumed.
Reuters reported that Iran is seeking payments equivalent to between 5 per cent and 7 per cent of cargo value, while Oman has proposed a 3 per cent charge.
However, the Trump administration has rejected any arrangement requiring ships to pay Iran for passage through what was an open international waterway before the war.
Crude stockpiles rose by 2.5 million barrels to 407 million barrels last week, data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed on Wednesday. Previously, the American Petroleum Institute (API) estimated that crude oil inventories in the US rose by 2.69 million barrels in the week ending July 30.
Apart from disruption in the Gulf, a surge in attacks on Russian and Ukrainian ships, ports and export terminals in the Black Sea is disrupting global commodity supplies.
Disruption has spread to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), the main export route for Kazakh crude oil, which has repeatedly suspended operations this week because of safety concerns and a lack of tankers.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Between $30 billion and $50 billion in investments are anticipated from 22 major offshore projects by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) from now till 2030.
Speaking at the Society of Petroleum Engineers’ Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition (NAICE 2026) in Lagos on Wednesday, the chief executive of NUPRC, Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, said since 2022, successive licensing rounds have opened access to some of Nigeria’s most prospective oil and gas acreages.
She made reference to the recent 2025 Licensing Round where 31 companies emerged successful bidders for 37 oil and gas blocks after progressing through a robust, data-driven and technology enabled evaluation process.
Mrs Eyesan said the 2026 Licensing Round, which is set to commence soon, is showing greater promise thanks to the transparency that has characterised licensing rounds.
“With preparations already underway for the 2026 Licensing Round, Nigeria is demonstrating that investment certainty is no longer an aspiration; it is becoming an enduring feature of our regulatory framework,” the NUPRC boss stated.
The agency’s chief, who was represented at the event by the Executive Commissioner for Development and Production, Mr Enorense Amadasu, the expected investments are expected to increase production, create jobs and strengthen energy security.
“Since 2024, the NUPRC has approved over $57 billion in Field Development Plan (FDPs) some of which have translated to Final Investment Decisions. Twenty-two major offshore projects are expected between 2026 and 2030 with an estimated investment potential of $30–50 billion.
“Beyond increasing production, these investments will create jobs, expand infrastructure, strengthen energy security and reinforce Nigeria’s position as a leading global upstream investment destination,” she stated.
She noted that besides developing its proven reserves, Nigeria is building a resilient energy future by maintaining a strong pipeline of exploration opportunities that will sustain long-term growth and energy security.
Mrs Eyesan said infrastructure deficit continues to undermine Africa’s promising potential, stating that, Nigeria is, however, addressing this challenge through a series of strategies.
“We are expanding gas gathering systems, processing facilities, pipelines and export infrastructure, while promoting shared facilities, open access, third party access and field tiebacks to reduce costs, speed up project delivery, maximise the use of existing infrastructure and help bring stranded oil and gas resources into production,” the NUPRC boss stated.
Besides these infrastructure strategies, Mrs Eyesan said stronger collaboration among government, security agencies, operators, host communities and private partners; as well as the Host Community Development Trust had led to an improvement in the protection of critical energy assets which had ultimately made Nigeria’s upstream sector more resilient.
