Economy

US Stocks May Extend Rally on Growing Trade Talks Optimism

Published

6 years ago

11/10/2019

By Investors Hub

The major U.S. index futures are currently pointing to a higher opening on Friday, with stocks likely to extend the rally seen over the two previous sessions.

Growing optimism about ongoing U.S.-China trade talks is likely to contribute to continued strength on Wall Street as the high-level negotiations move into their second day.

President Donald Trump told reporters shortly after the close of trading on Thursday that the talks with China are going ?really well.?

?So, we just completed a negotiation with China. We?re doing very well. We?re having another one tomorrow. I?m meeting with the Vice Premier over at the White House,? Trump said. ?And I think it?s going really well, I will say. I think it?s going really well.?

While Trump is almost always upbeat about talks with China, his remarks were backed up by a White House official, who told Reuters the talks had gone very well, ?probably better than expected.?

A U.S. Chamber of Commerce official briefed on the talks also told reporters the two sides could at least reach a partial deal that includes the U.S. calling off a planned increase in tariffs on Chinese goods.

Traders are likely to remain focused on any reports of progress in the talks or a lack thereof, potentially leading to some volatility on Wall Street.

Following the strong upward move seen on Wednesday, stocks saw some further upside during trading on Thursday. With the gains, the major averages further offset the sharp pullback that was seen earlier in the week.

The major averages pulled back off their best levels of the day but remained firmly positive. The Dow climbed 150.66 points or 0.6 percent to 26,496.67, the Nasdaq advanced 47.04 points or 0.6 percent to 7,950.78 and the S&P 500 rose 18.73 points or 0.6 percent to 2,938.13.

Buying interest emerged on Wall Street after Trump revealed he plans to meet with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He as part of high-level U.S.-China trade talks.

“Big day of negotiations with China. They want to make a deal, but do I? I meet with the Vice Premier tomorrow at The White House,” Trump tweeted.

The tweet from Trump offset concerns generated by reports suggesting Liu could leave Washington earlier than originally planned.

Adding to the positive sentiment, Liu told Chinese state-run media Xinhua the Chinese delegation has come to the talks with “great sincerity and is willing to make serious exchanges with the U.S. on issues of common concern.”

“On the basis of equality and mutual respect, China is willing to reach consensus with the U.S. through this round of consultations on issues of mutual concern to prevent further escalation and spread of friction,” Liu said.

Traders are likely to remain focused on reports regarding the highly anticipated negotiations and any signs of progress or lack thereof.

As a result of the focus on the trade talks, traders largely shrugged off a usually closely watched report from the Labor Department showing U.S. consumer prices were essentially flat in the month of September.

The Labor Department said its consumer price index was unchanged in September after inching up by 0.1 percent in August. Economists had expected another 0.1 percent uptick.

Consumer prices came in unchanged as higher prices for shelter and food were offset by declines in prices for energy and used cars and trucks.

Excluding food and energy prices, core consumer prices crept up by 0.1 percent in September after rising by 0.3 percent for three straight months. Core prices had been expected to rise by 0.2 percent.

“The muted gain in core consumer prices in September underlines that even after the introduction of additional tariffs on Chinese imports, inflationary pressures are still well-contained,” said Andrew Hunter, Senior U.S. Economist at Capital Economics.

“With wage growth leveling off and unit labor costs growth stable, we don’t think core inflation will rise further from here,” he added. “As a result, the Fed will remain focused on the incoming activity data, which we expect to prompt one more 25bp rate cut by year-end.”

A separate report released by the Labor Department showed a modest decrease in first-time claims for U.S. unemployment benefits in the week ended October 5th.

Steel stocks turned in some of the market’s best performances of the day, benefiting from the optimism about the U.S.-China trade talks.

Reflecting the strength in the steel sector, the NYSE Arca Steel Index surged up by 2.9 percent, climbing further off the more than one-month closing low set on Tuesday.

Significant strength also emerged among oil service stocks, as reflected by the 1.8 percent gain posted by the Philadelphia Oil Service Index. The index also continued to rebound after ending Tuesday’s trading at its lowest closing level in well over a month.

Financial, transportation, and natural gas stocks also saw considerable strength on the day, moving higher along with most of the other major sectors.

Economy

NGX RegCo Delists ASO Savings from Stock Exchange

Published

1 hour ago

16/01/2026

Dipo Olowookere

By Dipo Olowookere

ASO Savings and Loans Plc has been delisted from the daily official list of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited.

This action followed the revocation of the operating licence of the company by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in December 2025.

In a circular on behalf of the NGX Regulation (NGX RegCo) by Ugochi Eke, it was disclosed that the effective date of the delisting is today, Friday, January 16, 2026.

Already, the company has been notified of this development, according to the notice obtained by Business Post.

Before ASO Savings lost its operating licence, it had failed to meet some post-listing requirements, a part of the disclosure from the NGX RegCo stated.

“The board of NGX Regulation Limited via its decision dated January 1, 2026, approved that the step below should be taken pursuant to the process for regulatory delisting of issuers.

“The board has approved the delisting of ASO Savings and Loans Plc from the Nigerian Exchange Limited’s daily official list effective January 16, 2026.

“ASO Savings is hereby notified of this enforcement action and is advised to direct any communication in respect of the foregoing to [email protected].

“NGX RegCo was engaging the listed entity, concerning its outstanding post-listing obligations. However, due to the revocation of the operating license of ASO Savings by its primary regulator, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) effective December 16, 2025; NGX RegCo will delist the entity from the daily official list effective January 16, 2026.

“In view of the foregoing, NGX RegCo has proceeded with publishing the name of the Company in the national dailies.

“The company has been duly notified of this enforcement action, and this publication serves as notification to the investing public, particularly shareholders of the company and investors in the Nigerian capital market,” the statement read.

Economy

Lokpobiri Warns Oil License Bidders Against Hoarding

Published

3 hours ago

16/01/2026

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Mr Heineken Lokpobiri, has issued a stern warning to oil and gas investors that petroleum licences in Nigeria are strictly for active development, not asset hoarding or speculative holding, declaring that operators must drill or risk losing their rights.

He made this admonition while delivering his message at the 2025 Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) Licensing Bid Round Conference in Lagos, where he outlined the government’s hardline stance on asset utilisation and investor accountability.

“The oil assets in portfolio are not mere symbols or souvenirs,” Mr Lokpobiri said, adding that, “Holders of licences are obligated to drill, drill and drill for a shared benefit for the Government, Nigerians and the operators.”

He stressed that the administration is determined to ensure petroleum assets are translated into tangible economic value, noting that licences are time-bound rights granted solely for productive use.

“These assets belong to the Federal Government, and licences are granted strictly for a defined period for productive use, not passive ownership,” the minister said. “Our licensing framework is designed to eliminate speculation and ensure that only serious, capable investors participate.”

Mr Lokpobiri also issued a strong caution to bidders seeking to participate in the 2025 licensing round, urging them to fully understand the process and obligations before submitting bids.

“As prospects take part in this bid round, a clear understanding of the modus operandi guiding the process is essential,” he said, recalling previous bid rounds where some winners attempted to reverse their commitments.

“Past experiences have shown instances where some winning bidders sought refunds based on unmet expectations or perceived asset limitations,” Lokpobiri stated. “Such actions are untenable, as there is no provision in law for the refund of a bid already won.”

According to him, the conference was convened to remove ambiguity and protect the integrity of the licensing system, stressing that the government would strictly enforce all contractual obligations arising from the process.

“This conference serves to provide clarity upfront,” he said. “Participants must be fully informed, deliberate and committed, as the Government will uphold the sanctity of the process and enforce all obligations.”

The minister’s remarks reinforce the Federal Government’s broader push to accelerate upstream development, boost production and attract only technically and financially capable investors into Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, amid renewed licensing activity under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

Economy

NGX Removes Embargo on Trading in Premier Paints Stocks After Four Years

Published

3 hours ago

16/01/2026

Dipo Olowookere

By Dipo Olowookere

The suspension earlier placed on Premier Paints Plc, preventing investors from buying and selling its stocks on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited, has now been lifted.

The embargo was removed on Wednesday, a notice from the stock exchange, seen by Business Post, disclosed.

Almost four years ago, Premier Paints was suspended from the bourse due to the inability of its board to file the company’s financial results.

The NGX had on July 1, 2022, informed the investing community it had prohibited the trading of the organisation’s securities “in line with the provisions of Rule 3.1: Rules for Filing of Accounts and Treatment of Default Filing (Default Filing Rules).

The part of the rules provides that: “If an Issuer fails to file the relevant accounts by the expiration of the cure period, the exchange will; a) send to the issuer a second filing deficiency notification within two business days after the end of the cure period, b) suspend trading in the issuer’s securities, and c) notify the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the market within 24 hours of the suspension.”

In the latest disclosure dated Wednesday, January 14, 2026, and signed by the Head of Issuer Regulation Department of the NGX, Mr Godstime Iwenekhai, it was revealed that Premier Paints has now done the needful.

“The company has now filed all outstanding financial statements to Nigerian Exchange Limited.

“In view of the company’s submission of its outstanding financial statements, and pursuant to Rule 3.3 of the Default Filing Rules, which states that; The suspension of trading in the issuer’s securities shall be lifted upon submission of the relevant accounts provided The exchange is satisfied that the accounts comply with all applicable rules of the exchange. The exchange shall thereafter also announce through the medium by which the public and the SEC was initially notified of the suspension, that the suspension has been lifted, trading license holders and the investing public are hereby notified that the suspension placed on trading on the shares of Premier Paints Plc was lifted (on) Wednesday, January 14, 2026,” the circular stated.