Business
NSE Market Indicators Drop Further By 1.53%
The Nigerian stock market indices sustained negative growth yesterday, with the market capitalisation dropping further by N234 billion.
The Tide source reports that the market capitalisation lost N234 billion or 1.53 per cent to close at N15.091 trillion compared with N15.325 trillion posted on Wednesday.
In the same vein, the All-Share Index, which opened at 42,839.52, shed 654.14 points or 1.53 per cent to close at 42,185.38, due to loses by Seplat, Mobil and Dangote Cement.
Commenting on the market performance, the Head of Banking and Finance Department, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Dr Uche Uwaleke, said that monetary and fiscal policies uncertainties contributed to the trend.
Uwaleke said that another major reason was because investors had already priced-in their expectations in tier one banks going by their third quarter results.
He said that investors had taken positions in some of these stocks before the release of their audited results.
“Going by the Q3 results of these tier one banks, investors anticipated impressive results from them and had already priced-in these expectations in their stock prices before now,’’ Uwaleke said.
Conversely, Seplat recorded the highest loss to lead the laggards’ table with a loss of N17.50 to close at N767.50 per share.
Mobil trialed with a loss of N7.40 to close at N176.30, while Dangote Cement depreciated by N6.20 to close at N262.60 per share.
Unilever dipped N4.90 to close at N52.90, while Conoil decreased by N1.75 to close at N33.45 per share.
Conversely, Nestle Nigeria led the gainers’ table for the day, appreciating by N15 to close at N1, 395 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.
Business
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Business
NDDC Intensifies Women Empowerment Initiative Across Niger Delta
