Business
Expert Blames Slow Economic Growth On Lack Of Palliatives
A financial expert,
Mr Ambrose Omordion, has recently blamed lack of palliatives to cushion the effects of the hikes in petrol price and electricity tariff for slow economic growth.
Omordion, the Chief Operating Officer, InvestData Ltd., Lagos said this in an interview with our correspondent in Lagos.
According to him, continuous delay in the release of the palliatives has not helped economic activities.
He said that this was also responsible for the rising inflation and unemployment rates.
Omordion said that the inflation rate might rise to 17 per cent “when numbers for the just-concluded month of July are released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) later this month.’’
He, however, attributed the stock market growth last week to investors’ reaction to positive earnings by some quoted banks, in anticipation of interim dividends.
“The market last week reacted to the good quality half-year earning reports released by some firms.
“As investors and traders reposition their portfolios on the strength of numbers, they should expect another oscillating market.
“With more banking stocks notifying the NSE of late filing to audit their half-year results, it is a signal of interim dividends from such banks.
“Investors and analysts are also likely to shift attention from rate hikes to analyse the mixed numbers released so far, in relation to market prices, to know the likely direction of such companies’ shares,’’ Omordion stated.