Business
Bitcoin turns Crypto market pink, Investors flee to U.S. Dollar
Bitcoin turns Crypto market pink, Investors flee to U.S. Dollar
Bitcoin’s correction below $96,000 has caused the cryptocurrency market to turn “pink.”
This most recent rally is by no means inconsequential, as retail and institutional data indicate waning demand.
Although the asset seems to be moving independently of the fundamentals of cryptocurrency, it is being influenced by an unpredictable macroeconomic environment.
Bitcoin is still gaining attention, even though trade tensions between the U.S. and China are causing market jitters. Derivative structures, sentiment indicators, and investment flows all suggest a rise in caution.
The announcement of new Chinese tariffs on the world’s largest economy weakened risk appetite. Bitcoin immediately lost the bullish momentum that was part of a larger trend of people fleeing to safer assets in the face of trade tensions.
Although Donald Trump’s response, which imposed a 25 percent tariff on steel and aluminum, caused traditional markets to stabilize, the market swiftly recovered and regained confidence.
This political response also allowed Bitcoin to find some air. However, market fundamentals show that retail and institutional weakness indicators are present.
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According to the data, institutional purchasing volumes are not impressive. $204 million was invested in Bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. between February 3 and February 7, compared to $742.3 million worth of Bitcoin purchased by Strategy during that time. A definite sign that leveraged traders are lowering their exposure is the sharp decline in futures premiums, which went from 11% in early February to 8%.
Investors are choosing safe-havens, as evidenced by yield declines in U.S. Treasury notes. This momentum has made the U.S. dollar index show strength, reflecting an increase in risk aversion in international markets.
The U.S. Fed’s latest signals also show less incentive to cut rates quickly, further putting Bitcoin bulls in jeopardy.
U.S. Economy Supports Fed’s Caution
“Overall, the economy is doing well,” Jerome Powell stated at his Senate hearing on Tuesday, February 11, 2025. As a result, he defended the Fed’s monetary policy wait-and-see approach. Even though inflation is higher than the 2 percent target, the Fed does not anticipate any more rate cuts in the near future.
Monetary easing is anticipated to be restricted to 35 basis points by the end of the year.
The dollar fell 0.17%, or 17 points, and is currently trading at 108 index points on the greenback index in response to this cautious approach.
The spotlight now shifts to the inflation figures for January, scheduled to be unveiled on Wednesday.
If these figures indicate persistently elevated inflation, they might prompt the Fed to prolong its stringent policy, curtailing any optimism surrounding a vigorous reduction in interest rates.
Powell will continue his hearing before the House of Representatives, posing a fresh challenge for the market, which will strive to adjust its forecasts concerning the U.S. monetary policy’s trajectory.
The market is also dealing with a fresh rise in protectionism. The threat of a trade war with the European Union has been reignited by Donald Trump’s announcement of a 25% increase in customs duties on steel and aluminum imports.
The foreign exchange market reacted to these announcements immediately. The Japanese yen lost ground against the dollar, dropping 0.3 percent to 152.0, while the euro increased 0.22% to $1.03. Investors are looking to safe-haven assets in this uncertain climate, especially gold, which is seeing a resurgence in interest.
Global markets are becoming more tense as the Fed maintains its position and the White House toughens its trade stance.
Bitcoin turns Crypto market pink, Investors flee to U.S. Dollar
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Business
Petrol, Diesel Prices Drop as Dangote Cuts Ex-Depot Rates
Petrol, Diesel Prices Drop as Dangote Cuts Ex-Depot Rates
Motorists and businesses may get some relief from fuel costs as Dangote Petroleum Refinery announced fresh reductions in the ex-depot prices of petrol and diesel, cutting the prices by N50 and N80 per litre respectively.
Under the new pricing regime, the refinery reduced the ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, from N1,215 to N1,165 per litre.
The price of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), or diesel, was also reduced from N1,650 to N1,570 per litre.
The latest adjustment represents a 4.1 per cent reduction in the price of petrol and a 4.8 per cent cut in diesel.
The refinery said in a statement issued by the Dangote Group on Wednesday that the review was aimed at improving energy affordability, expanding access to locally refined petroleum products and supporting economic activities across the country.
The company said the new prices reflected its commitment to delivering affordable and quality petroleum products while maintaining a stable supply to the Nigerian market.
“Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced a reduction in the ex-depot prices of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and Automotive Gas Oil (Diesel), reaffirming its commitment to providing affordable, high-quality petroleum products to the Nigerian market,” the statement said.
It added that the refinery would continue to leverage operational efficiencies and pass the resulting benefits to consumers whenever market conditions allowed.
The latest reduction comes less than two weeks after the refinery resumed naira-denominated petrol sales and raised its ex-depot price to N1,215 per litre following a brief shift to dollar-based transactions.
The earlier change had triggered concerns among petroleum marketers over rising downstream costs.
In July, the refinery had temporarily suspended petrol truck loading and introduced dollar-denominated sales, with petrol priced at $0.779 per litre under the new framework. It subsequently returned to naira transactions and fixed the ex-depot price at N1,215 per litre.
With the latest adjustment, the refinery has now reversed part of that increase, reducing the petrol price by N50 and diesel by N80.
However, the new figures are ex-depot prices and do not necessarily translate into an equivalent reduction in pump prices. The final price paid by motorists will depend on factors including transportation, depot charges, margins and other downstream costs.
Dangote said it remained committed to ensuring stable supplies while improving operational efficiency and supporting consumers, businesses and other stakeholders.
The refinery, which has a nameplate capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, has increasingly become a major source of locally refined petrol, diesel and other petroleum products as Nigeria seeks to reduce its dependence on imported refined fuels.
The company said its operations were contributing to Nigeria’s energy security by strengthening domestic refining capacity, reducing reliance on imports and supporting economic development.
It added that it would continue to pass on the benefits of improved operational efficiencies to consumers whenever market conditions permitted.
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Auto
High Power Bills Force BUK to Halt Electric Vehicle Charging on Campus
High Power Bills Force BUK to Halt Electric Vehicle Charging on Campus
Rising electricity costs have forced Bayero University, Kano, to ban the charging of privately owned electric motorcycles and other electric vehicles across its campuses.
The university said the growing practice of using its electricity supply to charge private electric vehicles had contributed significantly to a sharp increase in its power bills, creating an additional financial burden for the institution.
The directive, which takes immediate effect, was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the university’s Director of Public Affairs, Lamara Garba.
According to the statement, the management has observed the “indiscriminate charging” of privately owned electric motorcycles and other electric vehicles using the university’s electricity supply.
It said the development was no longer sustainable at a time when the institution was seeking to manage its resources prudently.
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“The Management of Bayero University, Kano has observed with concern the indiscriminate charging of privately owned electric motorcycles and other electric vehicles using the University’s electricity supply across its campuses.
“This practice has contributed significantly to the sharp increase in the University’s electricity bills, thereby placing an enormous financial burden on the institution,” the statement said.
The university consequently directed all staff, students, commercial motorcycle operators and other users of electric motorcycles to stop charging their vehicles with the institution’s electricity.
It warned that anyone who violated the directive would face disciplinary action in accordance with the university’s rules and regulations.
“Management expects full compliance with this directive. Any person found violating this ban will be liable to appropriate disciplinary action,” the statement added.
To enforce the ban, the university directed provosts, deans, directors, heads of departments and heads of units to monitor compliance in their respective areas and report any violations to the appropriate authorities.
It also announced that a monitoring team would conduct regular patrols across the campuses to ensure strict adherence to the directive.
The institution urged all affected persons to cooperate with the measure, saying it was part of broader efforts to reduce energy costs and promote the prudent use of university resources.
High Power Bills Force BUK to Halt Electric Vehicle Charging on Campus
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Business
Zenith Bank confirms cyberattack, says customers’ contact information was accessed
Zenith Bank confirms cyberattack, says customers’ contact information was accessed
Zenith Bank has confirmed that hackers gained unauthorised access to limited customer information, including email addresses and phone numbers, following a cyberattack linked to a broader global attack affecting organisations across different sectors.
The bank disclosed the incident in an email sent to customers on Tuesday, assuring them that its banking services and digital channels remain secure and fully operational.
According to the lender, the breach involved only limited customer information, while its core banking infrastructure and digital platforms were not affected.
Zenith Bank said it activated its incident response procedures and other cybersecurity measures immediately after the unauthorised access was discovered.
The bank added that investigations were ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident, determine its full impact and strengthen measures designed to prevent further security breaches.
“Hackers accessed limited customer information, including email addresses and phone numbers, during a cyberattack that forms part of a broader global attack on organisations across different sectors,” the bank said.
Although Zenith Bank did not disclose the number of customers affected or identify the individuals or group responsible for the attack, it maintained that its banking services remained secure.
The bank also did not indicate whether sensitive financial information, such as account balances, transaction records, passwords, PINs or banking credentials, was accessed.
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The development has raised concerns about possible phishing attacks, fraudulent text messages and deceptive phone calls, as cybercriminals may attempt to use customers’ contact information to impersonate the bank or obtain confidential banking details.
Zenith Bank urged customers to remain alert and exercise caution when receiving unexpected emails, text messages or phone calls claiming to originate from the bank.
The lender warned customers not to disclose their passwords, Personal Identification Numbers, One-Time Passwords or other security credentials to anyone.
Customers were also advised to avoid clicking suspicious links, downloading unfamiliar attachments or responding to unsolicited requests for banking information.
The bank said customers should independently verify suspicious communications through its official channels before taking any action.
Zenith Bank has previously warned customers about fraudulent messages and impersonation attempts, stressing that customers should rely only on verified communication channels when seeking banking support. (Zenith Bank Gambia)
The latest Zenith Bank cyberattack has renewed concerns about the growing threat of cybercrime in Nigeria’s financial sector, particularly as more customers depend on mobile banking applications, internet banking and other digital financial services.
In August 2024, Guaranty Trust Bank, now operating under GTCO, reported attempts to compromise its website domain. The bank said at the time that customers’ data had not been affected and that its banking operations remained secure.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has also warned Nigerians about fraudulent emails, online messages and other communications falsely presented as official notices from financial institutions and regulatory agencies.
Such messages may contain suspicious links or requests for personal information intended to deceive recipients and gain unauthorised access to their accounts.
Zenith Bank said it remained committed to protecting customers’ information and thanked customers for their continued trust while investigations into the security incident continue.
As of the time of filing this report, the bank had not disclosed the number of customers affected, the source of the cyberattack or whether any financial information was compromised.
Zenith Bank confirms cyberattack, says customers’ contact information was accessed
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