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Investors’ Confidence Returns In Developed Markets

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Sentiment toward stocks rose around the world, reaching a record level in the US, as reports on manufacturing showed the global economy is recovering and investors bet that profits grew for the first time since 2007.

Investors forecast gains in each of the nine countries represented in the Bloomberg Professional Confidence Survey for the first time since the data began in 2007. The sentiment measure for the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index climbed 35 per cent to 54.37.

That’s only the second time the reading exceeded 50, signaling participants anticipate a rally in the next six months. The responses from 4.101 Bloomberg users were gathered January 4-8 as the MSCI World Index added 2.6 per cent.

Rising factory output in the US China and Europe helped send the S & P 500 to six straight gains to begin the year.

Analysts estimate that fourth quarter earnings reports beginning this week will show S&P 500 profit rose 62 percent, according to data complied by Bloomberg.

The results will follow the biggest annual rally since 2003 for MSCI World Index of equities in 23 developed nations. “The market is clearly in an upside trend”, said Luis Benguerd, a trader at inter-brokers Espanola in Barcelona, Spain, who participated in the survey.

“As long as we keep getting these macro figures and companies do as good as analysts expect them to do, that’s enough to keep this trend going”

The MSCI World has rebounded 74 percent from a 13-year low in March after the Federal Reserve left its benchmark interest rate at almost zero and the US government lent, spent or guaranteed as much as $9.66 trillion to end the recession and unlock credit markets. 

US factory output expanded in December at the fastest pace in more than three years, according to a report from the Tempe, Arizona-based Institute for supply Management. Chinese manufacturing surged the most since April 2004 last month, data compiled by London-based H SBC Holdings Plc and Market Economics showed. Production increased for a third month in December, Markit said.

The three reports were released January 4. The Bloomberg Sentiment Indexes for the US, Japan and Spain rose above 50 and reached all-time highs. The U.K gauge topped 50 for the first time since October, while Switzerland climbed to a record.

Spain exceeded 50 for the first time, adding 17 percent to 51.41. Confidence in Switzerland climbed 3.6 per cent to 60.89 and U.K index surged 22 per cent to 55.61. The measures for Italy, France and Germany increased 14 per cent, 3.7 per cent and 2.4 per cent to 62.61, 57.77 and 53.33 respectively.

The Dow Jones Stoxx 600 Index of European equities may advance 9.2 per cent through the end of 2010 as the economy grows strategists at New York based Citigroup Inc wrote in a January 4 report. Signs that the global economy is rebounding from its first recession since World War II have helped push prices on the MSCI World to 34.7 times profit from the past year at its 1.656 companies. That’s the most expensive valuation since 2002, making equities vulnerable should earnings fail to materialise.

Alcoa Inc., the biggest US aluminium producer, began earnings season on January 11 by missing the average analyst profit forecast. The S&P 500 lost 0.9 per cent following the New York based company’s report.

“Alcoa’s bottom-line number was not good and investors are selling because expectations were high”, said Mark Bronzo, a money manager in Irvington, New York, at security global investors, which oversees $21 billion. “The fear gets heightened”.

The MSCI World fell 0.4 per cent on Wednesday morning in New York  on a decline in oil and concern the Federal Reserve is preparing markets for higher interest rates.

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NPA Assures On Staff Welfare 

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The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has said the management will continue to accompany its port infrastructure  and equipment  modernization drive  with the development of the welfare of its personnel.
Dantsoho made the disclosure recently while responding to the commendation by the Maritime Workers Union (MWUN) and the senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASGOC) on the  clearing  of the age-long problem of employee stagnation, when the union paid him a courtesy visit at the Authority’s headquarters in Lagos.
A Statement by NPA’s General Manager Corporate & Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, quoted Dantsoho as saying,  “our Port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive will go hand-in-hand with continuous staff welfare improvement”.
The NPA MD disclosed that human capital development constitutes the key strategy for creating and sustaining superior performance under his watch, adding that “talent development constitutes a critical success factor for the actualization of the big hairy audacious goals we have set for ourselves especially in the area of Port competitiveness.
“The only way we can meet and indeed exceed stakeholders’ expectations is to deepen the competencies of our human resources assets and boosting their morale.”
Speaking further, Dantsoho commended the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for approving the strategic proposal of the Dantsoho-led Management team that solved the over a decade-long problem of lack of promotion that had fuelled industrial disharmony.
“I must specially appreciate our amiable Minister for graciously approving the multi-pronged stratagem we deployed that cleared all outstanding cases of employee stagnation by conducting examinations in one fell swoop and instituted timelines to forestall a recurrence of such anomaly”, he sad.
Speaking on behalf of the joint maritime labour unions, the President  of Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations & Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Comrade Bodunde stated, “In addition to clearance of the backlog of stagnated promotions, we also wish to express our appreciation for the increase in productivity bonuses, provision of end-of-year welfare packages for staff, and the revision of the Financial Guide to the Condition of Service, which now addresses our members’ concerns about inflationary pressures.”
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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ANLCA Chieftain Emerges FELCBA’s VP

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National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Elder Olumide Fakanlu, has been elected Vice President of the Federation of ECOWAS Licensed Customs Brokers Association (FELCBA).
The election took place during the FELCBA Congress, held from Tuesday, June 17th to Thursday, June 19th, 2025, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Fakanlu’s emergence as Vice President marks a significant achievement for Nigeria within the regional customs brokerage community.
Apart from Fakanlu, Secretary of the Seme Chapter of ANLCA, Austin Nwosu, was also elected, securing the role of Secretary of Relations with Institutions.
The Nigerian delegation played an active role in the congress, with Michael Ebeatu nominated as a member of the electoral officer team, ensuring a fair and transparent election process.
The three-day congress concluded with delegates undertaking a visit to the Sierra Leone Port, offering insights into the host nation’s maritime operations, followed by a recreational trip to the Tokeh Beach.
The newly elected executives are expected to lead FELCBA in its efforts to harmonize customs brokerage practices, promote trade facilitation, and advocate for the interests of licensed customs brokers across the ECOWAS sub-region.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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NSC, Police Boost Partnership On Port Enforcement 

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In a bid to enhance more enforcement in the nation’s Port, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to stronger inter-agency collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
The Council said the collaboration is aimed at enhancing stronger enforcement, compliance and improve operational efficiency across Nigeria’s ports.
Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of  NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, made this known during a visit to the  Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The visit, which he said, focused on strengthening institutional synergy, comes in the wake of growing responsibilities for the NSC under the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
Akutah emphasized the critical role of security agencies in supporting port operations and ensuring regulatory compliance.
He called for the posting of police officers to assist the Council’s monitoring and enforcement teams at key port locations including Lagos, Warri, Onne, Port Harcourt, and Calabar.
“The posting will complement the activities of our revived task teams and enhance our ability to enforce standards across the maritime logistics chain”, he said.
Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Egbetokun, assured the Council of the Force’s readiness to continue supporting the growth of the maritime sector.
The IGP acknowledged that compliance enforcement is essential to the successful implementation of Nigeria’s Blue Economy objectives.
“The NSC and NPF are expected to deepen collaboration in the months ahead, with a shared focus on building a secure, efficient, and competitive port environment”, to the IGP emphasized.
Chinedu Wosu
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