Business
Exchange Plans Capital Market Expansion
In a bid to expand the Nigerian capital market, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has stated its preparedness for companies seeking to raise capital from the Exchange.
In a statement from the Exchange on Friday, made available to newsmen, NSE pans to deepen activities, which will definitely encourage more participation in the market.
NSE proposed to reduce the financial record requirements of companies for listing from five years to three years to enable many companies meet up the standard requirement for listing.
It also added that companies with foreign technical partners could even be considered for listing with a one-year financial record.
Companies having a profit-after-tax of N300 million within three years or N600 million in one year of operation would also be allowed to list on the floor of the NSE.
According to the statement, regulators were targeting telecoms companies, international oil companies and private companies that have long operated in the country.
The statement reported that once this step is achieved in the NSE transformation agenda, Nigerian market would strongly follow South Africa and also present more opportunities for foreign participation.
Business
Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.