Economy
Supply Crunch Spurs Crude Oil Market to Two-Month High
By Adedapo Adesanya
The crude oil market jumped further on Thursday, supported by growing fuel demand and a draw in US crude inventories just as production remained hampered in the Gulf of Mexico after two hurricanes.
Brent crude rose by 1.39 per cent or $1.12 to sell at $77.25 per barrel, while the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) increased by 1.48 per cent or $1.25 to trade at $73.30 per barrel.
Prices hit their highest levels since late July after US crude stocks dropped to their lowest in three years on the momentum of supply constraints in the US Gulf of Mexico, which was reflected in the large crude inventory draws report of last week.
On Wednesday, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported yet another crude oil inventory draw of 3.5 million barrels for the week to September 17, taking the total US crude oil inventories to just below 414 million barrels, which is the lowest level seen since October 2018.
There was also a fall in the US Dollar, which attracted investors to the commodity. The greenback, which usually has an inverse relationship with commodities prices, including oil, eased slightly from a one-month high.
The market was also supported by the US Federal Reserve signal that it could begin tapering asset purchases as soon as November and potentially start raising interest rates as soon as next year. Oil market participants turned their focus to global oil inventories, especially those in the United States.
Investors confidence also continued to strengthen as a return of appetite for risk assets as concerns eased over a possible near-term default by Chinese property developer China Evergrande on its Dollar bonds.
Market analysts added that surging natural gas prices were also attracting the rise as the supply shortage of gas could encourage power utilities to shift from gas to oil if winter turns out to be colder this year.
This is in addition to the fact that some members of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, OPEC+ have struggled to raise output after years of under-investment or delays to maintenance work during the pandemic.
Saudi Arabia, Russia and others in the OPEC+ group of 23 oil-producing nations are adding about 400,000 barrels per day of supply to the market each month as they unwind historic cuts made last year.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
To unlock about $50 billion in deep offshore investment, President Bola Tinubu has signed the Deep Offshore Oil and Gas Projects Incentives (Tax Remission) Order, 2026, stressing that the aim is “to make Nigeria Africa’s regional hub for deep offshore project execution.”
In a statement personally signed by him on Wednesday, the Nigerian leader disclosed that he approved the executive order to create a clear and predictable framework for the sector.
According to him, the approval has already attracted approximately $10 billion for the Bonga South West project.
He stated that for projects accessing the supplementary incentives, the Order requires activities to be performed in Nigeria, subject to clearly defined exceptions and Nigerian content requirements.
The President noted that this part was included because “I want the work to come home to Nigeria. I want our engineers involved, our fabrication yards working, Nigerian marine and technical service companies securing contracts, and our young people acquiring world-class skills.”
“For me, the real measure of $50 billion will be what Nigerians see from it: good jobs, stronger Nigerian businesses, greater production, more revenue for the Federation and capabilities built here at home. Our natural resources must work harder for our people,” he added.
Mr Tinubu stated that this order is the tenth major policy directive of his administration targeted specifically at the oil and gas sector.
“We have been deliberate about removing the constraints holding back investment, production and value creation.
“For too long, some of our biggest offshore opportunities have remained stalled. We cannot afford to leave that opportunity beneath our waters for another decade. Capital moves, countries compete for it, and investors committing billions of dollars over many years need certainty,” he disclosed.
According to him, “We are providing that certainty, with a clear window for existing deep offshore leases to reach Final Investment Decision by 31 December 2029 and qualify for the full standard incentive.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange extended its stay in the red territory for a second consecutive session on Tuesday, August 11, declining by 1.81 per cent.
This pulled back the market capitalisation by N8.94 billion to N2.748 trillion from N2.798 trillion, and the NASD Security Index (NSI) dropped 84.44 points to 4,578.74 points from 4,663.18 points.
The market breadth index was at equilibrium yesterday, as there were four price gainers and four price losers.
On the red side, Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc depreciated by N12.86 to N116.88 per share from N129.74 per share, Afriland Properties Plc declined by N1.95 per cent to N22.00 per unit from N23.95 per unit, Food Concepts Plc weakened by 25 Kobo to N2.50 per share from N2.75 per share, and Geo-Fluids Plc lost 22 Kobo to sell at N2.05 per unit versus Monday’s N2.27 per unit.
On the green side, FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc gained N11.50 to finish at N156.50 per share compared with the previous day’s N145.00 per share, Nitrox Industrial Gases Plc expanded by N2.11 to N23.36 per unit from N21.15 per unit, NASD Plc advanced by N1.90 to N36.00 per share from N34.10 per share, and Nipco Plc surged by 50 Kobo to N457.00 per unit from N456.50 per unit.
During the session, the volume of securities rose by 31.2 per cent to 1.5 million units from 1.1 million units, the value of securities improved by 315.9 per cent to N42.3 million from N10.2 million, and the number of deals skyrocketed by 45.7 per cent to 51 deals from Monday’s 35 deals.
Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Plc ended as the most active stock by value (year-to-date), with 3.4 billion units valued at N8.4 billion, trailed by Infrastructure Credit Guarantee (Infracredit) Plc with 2.3 billion units sold for N6.5 billion, and CSCS Plc with 77.0 million units transacted for N5.5 billion.
GNI Plc also closed as the most active stock by volume (year-to-date), with 3.4 billion units worth N8.4 billion, followed by Infracredit Plc with 2.3 billion units exchanged for N6.5 billion, and Resourcery Plc with 1.1 billion units traded for N415.7 million.
By Dipo Olowookere
The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited tumbled by 0.73 per cent on Tuesday on the back of profit-taking by investors.
The consumer goods counter shed 0.96 per cent, and the banking space crashed by 0.46 per cent due to selling pressure. But the insurance index gained 0.24 per cent, and the energy segment improved by 0.03 per cent, while the industrial goods sector closed flat.
When the bourse closed for the session, the All-Share Index (ASI) gave up 1,806.18 points to 246,723.57 points from 248,529.75 points, and the market capitalisation depreciated by N1.166 trillion to N159.256 trillion from N160.422 trillion.
Thomas Wyatt lost 9.97 per cent to quote at N2.89, AVA Capital declined by 9.60 per cent to N8.95, International Energy Insurance dipped by 6.32 per cent to N4.00, International Breweries dropped 5.98 per cent to close at N11.00, and Guinea Insurance shed 5.13 per cent to 74 Kobo.
On the flip side, UPDC REIT gained 10.00 per cent to end at N14.85, FTN Cocoa appreciated by 9.88 per cent to N8.90, C&I Leasing surged by 8.26 per cent to N5.90, Sovereign Trust Insurance went up by 6.74 per cent to N1.90, and Regency Alliance climbed 6.33 per cent to 84 Kobo.
Yesterday, Fortis Global Insurance was the busiest equity, leading the activity chart with a turnover of 3.3 billion units worth N9.6 billion. Trans-Nationwide Express transacted 84.6 million units for N181.9 million, Access Holdings sold 66.1 million units valued at N1.9 billion, Consolidated Hallmark exchanged 54.3 million units worth N379.4 million, and Fidelity Bank traded 46.9 million units for N1.0 billion.
Investors bought and sold 3.9 billion units worth N32.4 billion in 45,608 deals compared with the 1.1 billion units valued at N27.0 billion traded in 59,185 deals a day earlier. This indicated that the number of deals retreated by 22.94 per cent, the trading volume increased by 254.55 per cent, and the trading value soared by 20.00 per cent.
