Business
NSE Moves 203.58m Shares Worth N2.49bn In Bearish Trading
Investors on the Nigerian
Stock Exchange (NSE) on Thursday traded a total of 203.58 million shares valued at N2.49 billion exchanged in 3,805 deals.
The Tide reports that this was against 190.30 million shares worth N2.34 billion traded in 4,578 deals on Wednesday.
FBN Holdings was the most traded in volume terms, accounting for 32.91 million shares valued at N122.13 million.
Transcorp came second with a total of 30.64 million shares worth N50.27 million, while Zenith International Bank sold 25.84 million shares valued at N416.14 million.
Access Bank trailed with 17.92 million shares worth N99.53 million and investors staked N278.40 million on 12.07 million shares of GT Bank.
The Tide reports the market indicators closed lower dropping by 0.10 per cent due to price losses by some highly capitalised equities.
The market capitalisation lost N9 billion or 0.10 per cent to close at N9.858 trillion compared with N9.867 trillion recorded on Wednesday.
Similarly, the All-Share Index which opened at 28,730.42 lost 27.33 points or 0.10 per cent to close at 28,703.09.
Guinness topped the losers’ chart, dropping by N3.36 to close at N97.60 per share.
MRS trailed with a loss of N1.68 to close at N31.93, while GT Bank shed 70k to close at N23.09 per share.
PZ Industries also lost 70k to close at N21 and Okomu Oil dropped 22k to close at N31.28 per share.
Conversely, Forte Oil led the gainers’ table, growing by N7.78 to close at N163.53 per share.
Unilever followed with a gain of N1.59 to close at N33.39, while Nigerian Breweries gained 95k to close at N134 per share.
GlaxosmithKline appreciated by 50k to close at N18.50 and Cadbury increased by 30k to close at N16.30 per share.
Business
Private sector gets N2.2tr credit in 30 days — CBN
Credit to Nigeria’s private sector rose to N83.26 trillion in June 2026 from N81.04 trillion in May, signifying a positive balance of N2.22 trillion month-on-month.
Year-on-year, the figure represents a nine per cent increase compared with the N76.13 trillion recorded in June 2025. The latest figures come as the CBN continues to balance efforts to control inflation with the need to support economic growth and expand credit to businesses.
The CBN data shows that credit to Nigeria’s private sector increased by approximately 2.74 per cent month-on-month between May and June 2026. Also, the CBN data noted that credit to the government fell slightly to N40.03 trillion from N40.38 trillion. Other assets, net, dropped to N10.76 trillion from N12.63 trillion.
The credit surge signifies sustained growth in lending to businesses and other private-sector borrowers during the month. The rise in private sector credit was recorded alongside an increase in net domestic credit, despite declines in credit to government and other assets.
Further analysis of the report says that compared with June 2025, private sector credit rose by about N7.13 trillion yea-on-year but net domestic credit increased by approximately N1.87 trillion during the month.
The CBN’s relatively tight monetary policy stance notwithstanding, more banks still loaded funds to the private sector within the period. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) held its 306th meeting on July 20 and 21.
The Committee reviewed recent developments in the global and domestic economies, assessed emerging risks to the outlook and considered their implications for monetary policy and retained all rates.
The Committee decided to retain the Monetary Policy Rate at 26.5 per cent; the Standing Facilities Corridor around the MPR at +50/-450 basis points and retain the Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR) for Deposit Money Banks at 45.00 per cent, Merchant Banks at 16.00 per cent, and non-TSA public sector deposits at 75.00 per cent.
The MPC decision means that credit extension in the private sector will likely continue to rise because of rising confidence in the sector and calls by stakeholders for banks to invest in the private scetor instead of government securities.
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Business
NDDC Intensifies Women Empowerment Initiative Across Niger Delta
