Business
FCMB Top Gainers Chart … As Zenith Loses
Chidi Kalu/Njideka Muaneke
At the close of trade on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) last Friday, a total of 6,466 deals was recorded which was valued at N2.9 billion with a total index market capitalization of 22,968.21. At the Top 10 Volume chart, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) came top with 62 deals, valued at N1,277,836,623.91, having a volume of 178,753,388.
Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) followed with a total deal of 525 which was valued at N164,554,232.04, while United Bank for Africa (UBA) closed rank with a total value of N148,970.740.68 on 62 deals.
Access Bank finished fourth with 220 deals, valued at N94,082,644.04 and 13,611, 545 being the volume traded. Fidelity Bank went home with N73,312,301.87, recording a total deal of 277.
Oceanic Bank smiled home at the close of trade with the sum of N46,663,553.05 as the value traded, having 323 deals and the volume of 11,571.131.
Transcorp Plc finished seventh on the list with 160 deals, which is being valued at N34,969,548.37.
Continental Insurance Plc went home with N22,550,641.06 on 18 deals, and was followed closely by First Inland Bank on 59 deals, valued at N22,232,030.69.
Capital Hotel closed the top 10 list with 11 deals, valued at N13.9 million.
GlaxoSmith opened the gainers chart with 23.99 and closed at 22.18 having a change of 1.19, followed by UAC-prop which opened the floor with 21 and closed at 22.05 with a change of 1.05. NBC opened with 19.89 as against 20.88 with a change of 0.99, while CCNM follow suit with 12.1 as against 12.7, having a change of 0.6.
Other gainers at the close of trade on Friday include IBTC, RT Briscoe, Vita form, Oceanic Bank, Becopetro, Leventis, Custodian Insurance, Fidelity Bank, Red Star Express, Wema Bank, UN Homes, Crusader, United Bank, Japaul Oil etc.
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.
Business
Solar Power: Host Communities Trust, Partner PIND To Light Up Ikwerre Communities
Business
NDDC Intensifies Women Empowerment Initiative Across Niger Delta
