E-Financial
Nigeria Week Ahead: Foreign Exchange Reserves, Fed and BoE in Focus
By Lukman Otunuga, FXTM Research Analyst
Nigeria will unveil updates on its latest foreign exchange reserve figures in the week ahead, amid renewed optimism over the progress of US-China trade talks. Investors will be keeping a close eye to see whether the nations foreign exchange reserves have increased in April given how WTI oil prices peaked above $66.00 last week before tumbling lower. Sentiment towards the Nigerian economy is likely to receive a boost should if reserves meet or exceed the $47 billion expectations.
Asian currencies gaining against softer Dollar following US Q1 GDP report
Over in the FX markets, Asian currencies are generally pointing higher in Monday trade, after the US Dollar softened following the release of its Q1 GDP report. The economic print surpassed expectations, with 3.2% annualized growth for the first quarter of 2019, but the impressive headline reading failed to assuage the demands of Dollar buyers, as US consumer spending slowed for a third straight quarter, indicating that underlying domestic demand is waning. More US personal income and spending data will be released later today, which should help investors gain further insights into the primary driver of the US economy, and more softness in consumer expenditure will be seen as a risk for further weakness in the Dollar in the near-term.
Will the Dollar Index resume its climb this week?
A slowdown in US consumer spending might be used as a reason for the Federal Reserve to delay further interest rate increases during its policy meeting scheduled for this week, even as Fed Funds Futures continue to point to more than a 50% chance of a US interest rate cut by October. In the immediate term however, investors could use Monday’s release of more inflation numbers to test the central bank’s data-dependent stance.
The Dollar Index might have slipped lower from its 2019 high last week, but it could still find reason to climb back above the 98 handle, should April’s US non-farm payrolls report due on Friday beat the 185,000 jobs that markets are expecting to be added. Continued job creation in the United States should help allay concerns over the momentum of consumer spending in the world’s largest economy.
Gold steady above $1,284 as global investors await key economic data
Concerns over the broader global economic slowdown will be allayed, should Europe’s Q1 GDP and China’s PMI both show signs of stabilizing when the respective datasets are announced on Tuesday. However, any fresh reminders of soft patches in the global economy following the disappointing data out of both Germany and South Korea last week should encourage some risk to be taken off the table, which should help the appeal of Gold in the near-term.
However, my view is that it might require a string of dismal economic indicators to bring Gold back above the psychological $1,300 mark and reverse the bearish trend seen in Bullion since late-March.
Oil falls away from 2019 high after Trump pressures OPEC to lower prices
Brent futures have dropped below the $72 mark, after tumbling late last week on the back of US President Donald Trump’s claim that he personally “spoke to” OPEC to lower Oil prices. The steep decline in prices comes just days after the US administration stated that sanction waivers on Iran’s Oil will end later this week, which initially sparked a rally in the value of Oil on the hopes of tighter supplies.
However, uncertainty may prevail over how strictly these waivers will be imposed on Iran and whether other producers, like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, will be able to fill the void of a reported 1 million barrels of Oil per day by the time the waivers expire. With the broader narrative of resilient demand and tighter supply in the market encouraging investors to buy Oil, prices can still find the impetus to resume the uptrend seen so far in 2019
Africa’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, fintech industry, scaling remittances, and cross-border payments will be the driving forces behind the continent’s digital ballooning payments system, which is estimated to reach $1.5 trillion by 2030.
This is according to a MasterCard-commissioned study by Genesis Analytics, which states that the digital payments economy is growing faster on the continent.
This comes as the World Bank says Sub-Saharan Africa has shown significant growth in financial inclusion over the past decade, much of it driven by mobile money account adoption.
Dimitrios Dosis, president, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa at MasterCard, comments: “Africa is filled with immense possibilities, and its people have the potential to shape the global economy in the decades ahead.
“MasterCard remains deeply committed to driving digital transformation across the continent, working closely with entrepreneurs, merchants, banks, start-ups, telcos, and governments. By increasing our investments, expanding innovation, and fostering inclusion, we are helping build a more connected and accessible digital future.”
The payment technology company went on to say as a longstanding technology partner to Africa, its continues to strengthen its commitment to the continent’s digital growth through strategic investments, public-private partnerships, and innovation initiatives that drive financial health and economic growth.
In addition, it says trends in Africa signal a strong shift towards digital transactions, with businesses and consumers increasingly embracing contactless solutions, further accelerating economic participation and financial accessibility across the region.
“For over five decades, MasterCard has worked alongside African governments, businesses, and communities to advance financial inclusion and economic development.
“With Africa projected to host nine of the world’s 20 fastest-growing economies, we are focused on leveraging our expertise and a technology to support the continent’s continued digital transformation.
“Our investments today will help build a more resilient economy for the future,” says Mark Elliott, division president, Africa, MasterCard
By fostering collaboration with key stakeholders, MasterCard says it aims to enhance digital connectivity, expand economic opportunities, and enable millions of people and businesses to thrive in the digital economy.
First Asset Management, one of Nigeria’s investment managers and a subsidiary of First HoldCo Plc. has launched its FBN Blended Dollar Fund to drive up customer earnings through its rich blend of US equity and high-profile investments domiciled in Nigeria.
In its recent webinar, the company discussed the advantages of its newly launched FBN Blended Dollar Fund. First Asset Management is the first company to launch a blended fund in the equity market to maximise customer earnings.
The event was part of the First Asset Management Leading Conversations Webinar Series, which convenes financial industry experts. The session was moderated by the renowned journalist, Omohefe Osemere and featured a distinguished panel including Laura Fisayo- Kolawole, Head of Equities & Alternative Asset Management at First Asset Management; Robert Hageneers, Head of Markets at FirstBank UK; Gbolahan Ologunro, Portfolio Associate at First Asset Management; and Dr. Ayodeji Akamu, Research Associate for Energy & International Economics at First Bank of Nigeria Limited.
The panel discussion revolved around the theme, “Blending Returns in a Dynamic Global Environment: Navigating Trump’s Trade Agreement,” addressing its impact on equity markets in both Nigeria and the United States. The conversation offered insights into global investment strategies amidst ongoing economic volatility.
During the session, First Asset Management introduced the FBN Blended Dollar Fund, explaining its significance and urging investors to seize this opportunity. With a global economic landscape filled with uncertainties, investors are increasingly concentrating on strategies to blend returns across asset classes.
This year, the positive shift in investor sentiment towards Nigeria has been driven by improvement in the monetary policy framework, increased domestic crude oil production, and rising non-oil revenue supported by improved VAT and customs duty collections—factors anticipated to continue bolstering investor confidence.
Laura Fisayo-Kolawole provided insights into U.S. President Donald Trump’s new economic policies, aimed at protecting local industries and stimulating the U.S. economy. She discussed the potential long-term effects of high tariffs designed to discourage imports, noting that while there is optimism stemming from Trump’s first-term policies, the market remains volatile and the full impact of these tariffs, effective from April 2, 2025, is still uncertain.
Ike Onyia, Managing Director at First Asset Management, underscored that the FBN Blended Dollar Fund is a versatile product ideal for investors with a keen interest in growth. It offers competitive returns that can help hedge against inflation and currency risk while providing liquidity.
With a structure that allocates 20% to U.S. equities and 80% to fixed-income instruments, money market instruments, and Euro bonds domiciled in Nigeria, the fund presents diversified exposure to global markets. Onyia expressed enthusiasm about launching a product that offers a unique opportunity for investors to position themselves in an evolving economic landscape.
PalmPay, one of Africa’s fastest-growing fintech platforms, yesterday officially launched its new PalmPay Debit Card in partnership with Verve, Africa’s largest domestic card scheme.
This partnership reflects PalmPay and Verve’s shared commitment to driving financial inclusion by expanding access and delivering greater value across the digital payments ecosystem.
With over 35 million users and a network of 1.1 million agents and merchants across Nigeria, PalmPay is building one of the continent’s most dynamic fintech ecosystems. The launch of its debit card represents a key milestone in PalmPay’s transformation from a mobile wallet and agent network into a comprehensive digital financial services provider – offering integrated solutions for payments, savings, credit, insurance, and now, card access.
The PalmPay Debit Card is seamlessly integrated with the PalmPay wallet, combining the convenience of a traditional bank card with the speed and flexibility of a digital platform, and access to PalmPay’s unique financial ecosystem.
Key Features include:
- Zero maintenance fees
- Easy in-app application and nationwide delivery
- Exclusive cashback and merchant rewards
- Full wallet integration, including access to high-yield savings (up to 16% APR, paid daily)
- Seamless offline and online payments across the Verve network
The card is accepted at all major payment terminals within Nigeria, offering both debit and contactless options. With this launch, PalmPay aims to redefine the everyday banking experience – making it more accessible, reliable, and rewarding.
Alongside the standard debit card, PalmPay is also rolling out PalmPay Premium, a tailored offering for high-volume users. Benefits include:
- A dedicated PalmPay Premium Card
- Priority customer support
- Higher transaction cashbacks and savings interest rates
- Exclusive merchant rewards and advanced financial tools
This premium service reinforces PalmPay’s commitment to empower users at every stage of their financial journey – from first-time account holders to high-earning professionals seeking more from their financial tools.
The PalmPay Debit Card was made possible through PalmPay’s strategic partnership with Verve, reinforcing both companies’ shared commitment to inclusive, locally relevant digital banking solutions.
“PalmPay is dedicated to using technology to broaden financial access,” said Chika Nwosu, Managing Director of PalmPay Nigeria. “This collaboration enables us to offer secure, widely accepted payment cards integrated with the full power of PalmPay’s ecosystem. Together, we’re reshaping how Nigerians experience digital finance.”
Vincent Ogbunude, Managing Director of Verve International, added: “We are proud to partner with PalmPay on this important milestone. Our alliance with PalmPay reflects our shared mission of accelerating financial inclusion and delivering payment innovation that meets the needs of African consumers.”
From zero-fee transfers and high-yield savings to instant credit, insurance, and now cards, PalmPay is building the financial infrastructure of the future – redefining digital banking to be more personalised, comprehensive and accessible to everyone.
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