Business
Naira will appreciate soon, says JP Morgan, predicts N600/$
The naira will appreciate in the coming weeks, and trade at about N600 to the dollar, JP Morgan, an American multinational financial services firm, has said.
The financial institution made the projection in a statement on Thursday.
On Wednesday, the Central Bank of Nigeria announced the unification of all segments of the forex exchange (FX) market, signalling that the exchange rate will now be decided by market forces.
The apex bank’s new policy followed a declaration by President Bolu Tinubu that the “monetary policy needs thorough house cleaning. The Central Bank must work towards a unified exchange rate”.
The naira on Wednesday sold for between N750 and N755 per dollar before appreciating to close at N664.04.
Analysing the naira float, JP Morgan said although it would take a few days for the dollar/naira spot to stabilise, it fully anticipates an initial overshoot towards the parallel market rate of below 750 or higher.
“While it will take a few days for USD/NGN spot to settle, we fully expect an initial overshoot towards the parallel market rate of -750 or higher, after which, we expect USD/NGN to settle in the high 600s over [the] coming months,” the statement read.
We remain long USD/NGN via non-deliverable forwards (NDFs) as well as OW emerging markets bond index global diversified (EMBIGD) index as we expect further positive catalysts to materialise in the near-term.
“We believe there is room for incremental positive surprises with respect to reform depth and execution speed. We had high expectations for the new administrations reform agenda, however, the speed of execution has proven to be a positive surprise.”
JP Morgan said the surge in the country’s petrol price could culminate in a headline inflation increase from 22.41 percent in May 2023, to the 25 percent mark in June 2023.
“The near tripling of fuel prices could see headline inflation jump closer to the 25 percent mark in June and remain firmly above 20% for the rest of the year,” the bank said.
“However, fuel subsidies accounted for 1.7 percent of GDP in 2022 and a complete removal will be positive for the fiscal accounts, although we expect that some portion of the savings will be targeted towards social spending.
“Of course, a weaker exchange rate means the government would receive higher naira revenues from oil and gas exports.
“We believe the devaluing of the naira yesterday could have a more limited impact on headline inflation given a substantial part of the informal economy accessed dollars at the much higher parallel market rate.”
Business
Naira depreciates again, trades at N1,402/$
Naira depreciates again, trades at N1,402/$
The Nigerian currency, naira, on Thursday slightly depreciated at the official market, trading at N1,402.67 to the dollar.
Data from the official trading platform of the FMDQ Exchange, a platform that oversees the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM), showed that the naira lost N11.71
READ ALSO:
- Why I killed my one-year-old son – Delta woman
- Bandits kill nine civilian JTF members, kidnap three in Sokoto
- Yahaya Bello govt spending third term in office through Ododo – Clark
This represents a 0.84 per cent loss when compared to the previous trading date on Tuesday April 30, when it exchanged at 1,390.96 to a dollar.
However, the total daily turnover increased to 232.84 million dollars on Thursday, up from 225.36 million dollars recorded on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, at the Investor’s and Exporter’s (I&E) window, the naira traded between 1,445.00 and N1,299.42 against the dollar.
Naira depreciates again, trades at N1,402/$
Auto
Appeal court takes over NURTW case as NIC withdraws
Appeal court takes over NURTW case as NIC withdraws
The National Industrial Court has withdrawn from a case involving Alhaji Najeem Usman Yasin, Board of Trustees chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), and Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa’s ambition to return as president of the union over lack of jurisdiction.
The industrial court’s decision was made to avoid conflict with the Court of Appeal, where the matter is already being heard.
Before the NIC announced its decision to hands-off the case, the defendants’ counsel, Mr. O.I. Olorundare SAN, had informed the court that the matter is currently before the Court of Appeal, Abuja division, and that the industrial court could not continue to adjudicate on the same matter.
The counsel cited authorities to support his claim, adding that the National Industrial Court does not have concurrent jurisdiction with the Court of Appeal.
The presiding judge, O.O. Oyewunmi, struck out the case, stating that the Appeal Court had taken over the matter and that the Industrial Court must respect the hierarchy of courts.
Alhaji Yasin and six others took the case to the Appeal Court, challenging the decision of the industrial court recognising a delegates’ conference held on May 24, 2023, where Baruwa was proclaimed as President of the union for a second term in office.
With the latest NIC judgement, both parties will now proceed to defend their positions at the Court of Appeal and await the final judgement.
Business
Multichoice shuns court order, proceeds with increase of DSTV, Gotv packages
Multichoice shuns court order, proceeds with increase of DSTV, Gotv packages
Despite the intervention of the CCPT, Multichoice Limited has proceeded to increase packages price for DSTV and GOTV as announce on Wednesday last week.
Newstrends had earlier reported that the corporation announced that the new rates will go into effect on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in a statement.
Meanwhile, on Monday, MultiChoice Nigeria Limited was ordered by the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) in Abuja to suspend the planned prices and tariffs hike on packages and services.
READ ALSO:
- Ogun frees 49 inmates to decongest prisons
- JAMB, NCC in talks to produce special SIM for students
- Labour-FG face-off imminent as NLC rejects new salary increase
The three-member tribunal, presided over by Saratu Shafii, gave the interim order following an ex-parte motion moved by Ejiro Awaritoma, counsel for the applicant, Festus Onifade.
News prices includes: DStv, Premium bouquet, the price moved from N29,500 to N37,000; Compact+ from N19,800 to N25,000; Compact from N12,500 to N15,700; Confam from N7,400 to N9,300, among others.
For GOtv users, Supa+ increased from N12,500 to N15,700; Supa moved from N7,600 to N9,600; Max from N5,700 to N7,200; Jolli, from N3,950 to N4,850, among others.
Multichoice shuns court order, proceeds with increase of DSTV, Gotv packages
-
metro3 days ago
Labour Day: Nigerian workers are dedicated, resilient, says NURTW leader
-
News3 days ago
FG approves salary increase for civil servants, military, police
-
News2 days ago
Labour-FG face-off imminent as NLC rejects new salary increase
-
Auto2 days ago
Appeal court takes over NURTW case as NIC withdraws
-
metro2 days ago
Terrorists release video of kidnapped palace servant, others in Zamfara
-
International3 days ago
Binance founder bags jail term in US
-
metro2 days ago
Inspector arrested with snatched car
-
metro1 day ago
Security forces, vigilantes arrest kidnapper terrorising communities in Kogi