News
Nigeria Waits for Complete Election Results
By Lukman Otunuga, FXTM Research Analyst
Whatever the outcome of Nigeria’s presidential election, it will certainly have an impact on investor sentiment.
Foreign investors need to see Nigeria stepping up its efforts to diversifying away from oil dependence, while also boosting infrastructure spending across major sectors. If the correct strategy is implemented towards improving local macroeconomic conditions and shielding against external forces, Nigeria could move a step close to nearing its true potential. Although the elections will affect investor confidence in the near term, it’s the critical steps taking after that will shape sentiment towards the largest economy in Africa.
Pound clings onto Brexit delay hopes
Pound bulls were injected with a renewed sense of confidence this morning following reports that UK Prime Minister Theresa May could delay Brexit beyond 29 March.
This development will certainly remove some element of uncertainty over Brexit whilst soothing fears over the UK crashing out of the EU without a deal in place next month. However, a major risk accompanied by extending Article 50 is that Britain will find itself trapped in a Brexit limbo. While the Pound has scope to extend gains on Brexit delay expectations, the medium to longer term outlook remains blurred by a thick cloud of uncertainty. With the odds of a second referendum also rising after Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn made a U-turn to back the move, another question floating in the air is whether there will even be a Brexit.
With just over one month left until the UK is scheduled to leave the European Union, we expect the Pound to display extreme levels of sensitivity and volatility to Brexit headlines. Although some attention will be directed towards the inflation report hearings later today, this will likely be overshadowed by a crucial cabinet meeting where the Brexit deadline will be discussed.
Focusing on the technical picture, the GBPUSD is pushing higher on the daily charts with prices trading around 1.3130 as of writing. The combination of Brexit delay expectations and Dollar weakness has the potential to push the GBPUSD towards 1.3200 in the near term.
Dollar waits for Jerome Powell
The Dollar has lost its mojo in recent days, slipping closer to the 96 psychological level due to a number of domestic and external factors.
A string of soft economic data from the United States, coupled with growing speculation over the Fed taking a break on monetary tightening this year, has brought nothing but bad news for the Dollar. The risk-on flows have also pulled investors away from safe-haven assets and currencies, which will inevitably pressure the Dollar further. Although Dollar bulls were initially supported by the economic divergence between the US and everyone else, this theme could be coming to an end.
Much attention will be directed towards Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s congressional testimony later in the day. Powell’s testimony could offer investors some additional insight into the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy stance for 2019. The central bank head is expected to reiterate that the Federal Reserve will remain “patient” on future hikes. We see the Dollar weakening against a basket of major currencies if Powell adopts a dovish tone during his testimony.
Commodity spotlight – Gold
Gold weakened towards $1,326 this morning, as US-China trade optimism sent investors sprinting to riskier assets.
Although the precious metal is at risk of depreciating further in the short term amid the risk-on sentiment, the medium to longer term outlook swings in favour of Gold bulls. For as long as geopolitical risks, concerns over plateauing global growth and speculation over the Fed taking a pause on rate hikes remain key themes, Gold is insulated from extreme downside shocks.
In regards to the technical picture, sustained weakness below $1,330 is likely to encourage a decline towards $1,318. However, bulls still remain in control above the $1,303 higher low.
Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has warned Nigerians against transacting with three fake Nigerian firms, citing fraudulent incorporation documents and registration numbers not issued by the commission.
According to the CAC, these companies are using fake certificates of incorporation with two different RC numbers each, none of which exist in the commission’s official records.
The affected companies are SPEF Cooperative Society Ltd with RC Numbers 1265884 and 512862, UPIL Staff Cooperative Society Ltd with RC Numbers 1265837 and 553220, and PREM Staff Cooperative Society Ltd with RC Numbers 1265844 and 545901.
The CAC warns that any Nigerian conducting business with these entities does so at their own risk.
“Anyone that transacts any business with the above-mentioned companies does so at their own risk,” the commission warned.
The commission further advised potential partners and investors to verify registration details directly through its official portal before signing contracts or making payments.
Similarly, the CAC, in a bid to enhance its services, introduced an AI-powered business registration platform on July 3, designed to streamline incorporations.
This new system offers instant name reservations, automated business-name suggestions, and same-day registration using a National Identification Number (NIN).
Additionally, the commission plans to review its service fees starting August 1, aiming to make its services more efficient and cost-effective.
The African Development Bank, in partnership with the International Labour Organization, has launched a transformative system to mainstream youth employment, skills development, and entrepreneurship across its investments.
The approach, called the Youth, Jobs and Skills Marker System, is aligned with the Bank’s latest Ten-Year Strategy, which places Africa’s young people at the center of development efforts to maximize the impact of every dollar invested, turning demographics into a dividend.
The Marker System ensures that Bank projects spanning diverse sectors, such as agriculture, transport, energy, water, and education, systematically incorporate components that enhance youth employability, foster entrepreneurship, and build market-relevant skills.
“The Youth, Jobs and Skills Marker System is about ensuring Africa’s young people have a real say and active role in building sustainable economies and creating jobs – not as passive recipients of youth programs,” said Dr. Beth Dunford, the Bank’s Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development. “This transformation of Bank practices and systems is a step toward making sure our investments have a positive impact on Africa’s young women and men.”
The integrated system has three focus areas:
Youth: Supporting youth-led micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises through targeted investments and operational integration.
Skills: Expanding access to practical, market-driven training and apprenticeships to enhance career prospects.
Jobs: Ensuring Bank-funded projects create sustainable job opportunities, particularly by developing youth skills for employability and the promotion of youth-led businesses in priority value chains.
Each year, around 10 to 12 million young Africans enter the labor market, which offers only three million formal jobs annually. The Bank will prioritize youth entrepreneurship and mobilize private sector partnerships to strengthen industry-oriented skills training as well as job creation over the coming decade.
“[This initiative] is very important because it allows us to significantly contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #8 that includes decent work for all,” said Peter van Rooij, Director of Multilateral Partnerships and Development Cooperation at the International Labour Organization. “It also allows the International Labour Organization to influence the Bank’s work, to support their lending that is more geared toward more job creation and better jobs in a sustainable way.”
The Youth, Jobs and Skills Marker System is modeled on the success of the Bank’s Gender Marker System and its online dashboard, which categorize Bank projects based on their contribution to gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Similarly, the new system will feature an online platform enabling Bank staff and consultants to access real-time data for preparing country strategy papers, mid-term reviews, annual reports, project supervision, and reporting on youth-related skills, businesses and jobs outcomes.
The Bank has just launched a pilot version of the Youth, Jobs and Skills Marker System in readiness for the full implementation in 2026. This system will enhance data tracking, improve estimates of youth skills attainment and employment, strengthen labor market information systems, and support policymakers in making evidence-based decisions that drive meaningful change.
The International Labour Organization provided technical support for the system’s development with financial support from the Bank’s Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation Multi-Donor Trust Fund. The Youth, Jobs and Skills Marker System is the first deliberate action of its kind developed by a development finance institution worldwide.
The Securities and Exchange Commission has revealed plans to commence investigation into the activities of an entity operating under FF Tiffany, allegedly running a fraudulent investment scheme that has defrauded citizens.
A statement by the SEC on Tuesday in Abuja said preliminary information revealed that the scheme, which promised investors unusually high and unrealistic returns, had resulted in the loss of several billions of naira.
The SEC said it viewed the activity as a threat to investor confidence and the overall integrity of the financial system.
The commission assured the public that it was working closely with law enforcement agencies and other relevant bodies to bring everyone involved in the unlawful operation to justice.
According to SEC, those found culpable will be prosecuted in accordance with the Investment and Securities Act and regulatory provisions.
SEC reiterated its earlier warnings to the general public to desist from engaging in Ponzi or unregistered investment schemes that promised guaranteed or exaggerated returns.
“These schemes are not registered with the SEC and do not offer investor protection under the law.
“The commission is currently investigating 79 schemes and will make a statement on its findings at the conclusion of the investigation,” the SEC said.
The commission encouraged investors to conduct due diligence and verify the registration status of any investment firm or product by visiting the SEC website or contacting the commission directly through official channels.
SEC said it remained committed to its mandate of protecting investors, ensuring fair practices, and maintaining confidence in Nigeria’s capital market.
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