Business
NSE Investors’ Net Worth Rises By 6.19%
Investors’ net worth on the Nigerian Stock Exchange appreciated by 6.19 per cent in the month of December from the 3.45 per cent achieved in November.
Reports say that official statistics provided by NSE showed that the All-Share Index rose by 2408.34 points to close the year at 41,329.19 from the 38,920.85 achieved in November.
The market capitalisation grew by N778 billion to close at N13.226 trillion compared with N12.448 trillion recorded in November.
The volume of shares traded also grew by 5.57 per cent with 10.04 billion shares worth N71.12 billion traded in 90,765 deals.
This was against the 9.51 billion shares worth N95.40 billion traded in 104,233 deals in November.
The financial services sector emerged the toast of investors in December with 6.99 billion shares worth N26.1 billion traded in 45,560 deals.
Some stakeholders attributed the steady growth of the market, in spite of the festive period, to renewed confidence of foreign and local investors in the market.
In separate interviews in Lagos foreign investors’ increased exposure to emerging markets contributed to the growth.
The immediate past President, Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria, Alhaji Rasheed Yussuf said that the growth in economies in the West rubbed off on the nation.
He said that the market performance in 2013 had reinvigorated investors’ expectations in 2014.
Yussuf said that investors’ growing stake in the market was in anticipation of enhanced dividend in the financial year ended December 31, 2013.
He said that investors based their stakes on current performance of stocks and not on speculation.
Yussuf said also that investors, who exited the market during the 2008 financial meltdown, were finding their way back due to the sustained growth.
He said that there was the need for listing of new issues to avoid over pricing of stocks and avert the bubble burst experienced in 2008.
“The market regulators should encourage listing of new issues in the market to minimise pursuit of few stocks by investors with surplus funds,” Yussuf said.
The Managing Director, Global View Consult & Investment Ltd., Mr Olaleye Williams, said that the initiatives introduced by the market regulators to enhance investor confidence led to the growth witnessed during the period.
Williams said that the new trading platform offered opportunities for better appraisal of the potential of the market.
He expressed optimism that the current growth would be sustained in January as investors strategised ahead of the release of companies’ financial results for 2013.
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.
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