Business

CBN releases more dollars as naira weakens to 1,300/$

Published

11 months ago

April 24, 2024

CBN releases more dollars as naira weakens to 1,300/$

The naira depreciated further against the United States dollar at the official market on Tuesday, closing at 1,300/$.

This came as the Central Bank of Nigeria stepped up efforts to stem the tide, selling more dollars to Bureau De Change operators.

The apex bank disclosed the dollar sale in a new circular referenced TEM/FEM/PUB/001/013 and uploaded to its website on Tuesday.

It was signed by the CBN Director, Trade and Exchange Department Dr Hassan Mahmud.

The apex bank said it was set to sell $10,000 to BDCs at N1,021 per dollar and directed the operators to sell at a spread not more than 1.5 per cent above the CBN rate.

Amid the development, the naira maintained a depreciation trend against the United States dollar on Tuesday, falling to N1,300 per dollar at the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market.

The new rate is N66 per cent weaker than N1,234 per dollar recorded on Monday.

A summary of the forex transaction showed that the intra-day high depreciated by N22, closing at N1,317 per dollar from N1,295 per dollar. The intra-day low however gained to N1,000 from N1,051/$.

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While the total daily turnover increased slightly to $133.65m from $110.17m on Monday.

At the parallel market, currency traders sold the dollar between the rate of N1,300 and N1,320 on Tuesday from N1,260 recorded on Monday.

Earlier this month, the apex bank sold $10,000 to BDCs at a rate of N1101/$ and directed the BDCs to sell to eligible customers at a rate not exceeding 1.5 per cent above the purchase price.

This initiative represents the second such occurrence this month and the fourth instance this year, underlining the CBN’s proactive strategy in managing currency volatility and ensuring the availability of essential foreign exchange.

The PUNCH reported on Monday that the Naira depreciated against the United States dollar reaching an exchange rate of N1,234 at the official foreign exchange market. This represents a decline of N65 or approximately 5.26 per cent from the previous rate of N1,169.99/$1 recorded on Friday. The fluctuation in exchange rates can have significant implications for trade and economic stability.

The statement read, “We write to inform you of the sale of $10,000 by the CBN to BDCs at the rate of 1,021/$. The BDCs are in turn to sell to eligible end users at a spread not more than 1.5 per cent of the purchase price.”

This recent move follows the CBN’s resolve to continue to defend the naira as stated by the bank earlier.

The CBN directed all eligible BDCs to commence payment of naira deposit into the designated CBN accounts from April 22, 2024.

It also asked the operators to submit proof of payment and other documents at the appropriate CBN branches for disbursement.

CBN releases more dollars as naira weakens to 1,300/$

Business

SEC announces stricter measures to protect investors

Published

14 hours ago

March 24, 2025

Trends Admin

Director-General of SEC, Dr. Emomotimi Agama

SEC announces stricter measures to protect investors

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting investors in Nigeria’s capital market by cracking down on fraudulent activities.

According to the Director-General of SEC, Dr. Emomotimi Agama, operators engaging in unscrupulous practices will face strict penalties as the Commission prioritizes safeguarding investor interests.

“So, clearly for us, it is getting people to understand that there is no hiding place anymore for anybody that has the intention to defraud Nigerians and to defraud anybody that is investing in this market,” Dr. Agama stated, emphasizing the Commission’s zero-tolerance policy.

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Dr. Agama highlighted that the Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2007 serves as the framework for securities regulation in Nigeria, ensuring that market operators adhere to high ethical standards.

He emphasized the importance of the “fit and proper person’s test,” which requires operators to meet specific regulatory criteria to maintain their licenses.

“This is because the very ethics of regulating or registering a securities market operator is in the principle of the fit and proper person’s test,” he explained.

“What you have been seeing most recently by the revocation of licenses, the suspension of operators and our follow-up to operators that are not registered with the SEC is only a tip of the iceberg as to what we intend to do this year.”

Dr. Agama assured stakeholders that the SEC will leverage its regulatory powers under Nigerian law to deter fraudulent activities, noting, “We believe strongly that a protected investor is a powerful investor.”

SEC announces stricter measures to protect investors

Business

Bitcoin rises above $86,000 as crypto market gains momentum

Published

14 hours ago

March 24, 2025

Trends Admin

Bitcoin rises above $86,000 as crypto market gains momentum

Bitcoin and other leading cryptocurrencies extended their gains on Monday, buoyed by positive investor sentiment despite concerns over upcoming U.S. tariffs and key economic data releases later this week.

As of 7am WAT, Bitcoin rose 3.2% to $86,590, while Ethereum gained 2.3%, trading at $2,047.

The global cryptocurrency market capitalization increased by 2.94% in the past 24 hours, reaching $2.84 trillion.

Other notable performers included XRP, Cardano, and Dogecoin, which posted gains of 3%, 2%, and 3.8%, respectively. Chainlink, Avalanche, Hedera, and Stellar recorded growth ranging from 3% to 10%.

“Bitcoin is holding above $86,000, registering a 3% gain today. The key resistance level to watch is $86,700; a breakout could pave the way for $90,000,” said Vikram Subburaj, CEO of Giottus.

Bitcoin’s market capitalization surged to $1.727 trillion, with dominance rising to 60.73%. Its 24-hour trading volume soared by 93% to $18.2 billion, while stablecoin transactions accounted for 94.74% of total crypto trading, reaching $57.58 billion, according to CoinMarketCap.

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Solana Outperforms Peers Amid Positive Market Sentiment

Solana (SOL) emerged as a standout performer, surging over 7% in the past 24 hours to trade above $139.

The rally was fueled by reports suggesting that President Trump’s April 2 tariffs may be more targeted than initially feared, easing market concerns.

Weekend rumors indicated that the tariffs might include country exemptions and non-cumulative charges on metals, contributing to improved sentiment across global markets.

The Federal Reserve’s projections for two rate cuts this year further supported risk assets, with the central bank describing potential tariff-induced inflation as “transitory.”

BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes expressed optimism about Bitcoin’s trajectory, stating, “The Fed’s policy orientation could help Bitcoin achieve $110k before it retests $76.5k.”

Solana’s momentum aligns with unprecedented acceptance rates. DeFiLlama reported that Solana’s total value locked (TVL) reached 54.87 million SOL, its highest level since June 2022. Ali Charts revealed that a record 11.09 million addresses now hold SOL, underscoring growing adoption.

Bitcoin rises above $86,000 as crypto market gains momentum

Railway

Lagos Govt to redesign Oshodi motor park for rail integration

Published

1 day ago

March 23, 2025

Trends Admin

Honourable Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi

Lagos Govt to redesign Oshodi motor park for rail integration

The Lagos State Government has announced plans to redesign the Oshodi Transport Interchange (OTI) to integrate the facility with the Red Line and Blue Line rail systems, advancing its Rail Mass Transit project.

This initiative aims to deliver seamless connectivity between the two key rail networks and enhance commuters’ experience in Lagos.

The disclosure was conveyed via a statement shared on the official X (formerly Twitter) account of the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation on Saturday, highlighting the need to optimize the design and operations of the OTI to boost efficiency and align with global standards.

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To kickstart the process, the Honourable Commissioner for Transportation, Seun Osiyemi, held a meeting with stakeholders to assess the current state of the interchange and outline strategies for its improvement.

“The Ministry of Transportation sought to address the ongoing developments and challenges affecting the Oshodi Transport Interchange (OTI) in preparedness for the integration of the Rail Mass transit system; Red Line rail project connecting the Blue Line.

“The Ministry recognized that a review of the OTI’s design and operations is essential for its optimization which led to the Honourable Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi meeting with relevant Stakeholders to discuss the current state of the OTI and identify viable solutions that would enhance its operational efficiency in alignment with global standards and Standard Operating Procedures,” the statement read in part.