Banking

Equity market opens with N167bn profit gain

The Nigerian equity market opened the week on a positive note, extending gains from the previous session with a N167 billion profit for investors.

Specifically, the market capitalisation, which opened at N56.441 trillion, gained N167 billion or 0.30 per cent to close at N56.608 trillion.

The All-Share Index also advanced by 0.30 per cent or 295 points to close at 99,966.28, compared to 99,671.28 recorded on Friday.

As a result, the Year-To-Date (YTD) return rose to 33.69 per cent.

The market’s performance was primarily driven by gains in MTN Nigeria, alongside Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO), Zenith Bank, and other advanced stocks.

Market breadth closed positive with 29 gainers and 16 losers on the floor of the Exchange.

Cutix Plc led the gainers chart by 9.96 per cent to close at N5.08, followed by Ikeja Hotel, which gained 9.45 per cent to close at N6.95 per share.

Royalex gained 8.96 per cent to close at 73k, Sunu Assurances rose by 8.40 per cent to close at N1.29, and Red Star went up by 8.15 per cent to close at N4.38 per share.

On the other side, Chellaram Plc led the losers’ chart by 9.76 per cent to close at N3.70, while Abbey Mortgage Bank trailed by 7.04 per cent to close at N2.51 per share.

Jaiz Bank lost 5.78 per cent to close at N2.12, Ellah Lakes dropped 5.36 per cent to close at N3, and International Breweries shed 4.20 per cent to close at N3.88 per share.

An analysis of the market activities showed trade turnover settled higher relative to the previous session, with the value of transactions up 8.02 per cent.

A total of 362.43 million shares valued at N7.37 billion were exchanged in 8,405 deals, compared to 420.90 million shares valued at N6.82 billion exchanged in 7,617 deals posted in the previous session.

GTCO led the activity chart in volume and value with 66.90 million shares worth N3.06 billion, followed by Access Corporation with 44.95 million shares valued at N854.42 million.

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) sold 26.74 million shares valued at N203.08 million, Japaul Gold traded 21.45 million shares worth N41.68 million, and UACN transacted 20.34 million shares worth N287.79 million.

In its weekly forecast, analysts at Cowry Asset Management predicted that market momentum is expected to continue with ongoing bargain hunting and portfolio adjustments.

They suggested that this is in anticipation of the June Consumer Price Index and half-year corporate earnings reports.

According to the analysts, these upcoming economic indicators are likely to influence investors’ decisions and market trends in the face of weak sentiments.

“As the changing market structure and fundamentals persist, investors are advised to position themselves in stocks with sound fundamentals,” they said.

Banking

CBN fixes date for Monetary Policy Committee meeting

The Central Bank of Nigeria has announced Monday and Tuesday, July 21 and 22, 2025, as the 301st Monetary Policy Committee meeting.

The apex bank disclosed this in a notice released on its official website at the weekend.

The MPC meeting, which is CBN’s highest decision-making body, would meet in Abuja to take on the country’s interest rate and inflation.

Accordingly, the apex will decide whether to sustain the interest rate pause and other monetary policy measures or tighten measures.

Nigeria’s inflation rate fell in May to 22.97 percent.

In the 300th MPC meeting, the Olayemi Cardoso-led CBN retained the interest rate at 27.50 percent upon the inflation rate drop.

Banking

Reps direct CBN to remit N3.64trn to FG

The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee on Friday, directed the Central Bank of Nigeria to remit the sum of N3.64tn to the Federal Government within 14 days.

The amount, according to the Committee, represents 70% of an outstanding N5.2tn in unpaid operating surplus for the period spanning 2016 to 2022.

The decision was taken following the appearance of the apex bank team, led by Deputy Governor of Operations Directorate, Bala Bello, and the Finance Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, before a Joint Committee of PAC and Public Assets on Wednesday.

During the session, the panel grilled the CBN on its failure to remit operating surplus funds and its management of unclaimed dividends and dormant account balances.

A formal letter addressed to the CBN Governor, Yemi Cardoso signed by the Chairmen of the Public Accounts and Public Assets Committees, Bamidele Salam and Ademorin Aliyu, accused the bank of withholding N5.2tn due to the Federal Government.

The letter is titled “Investigation of non-compliance with Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 and Finance Act 2020 on the remittance of operating surplus and management of unclaimed dividends and dormant Account Balances by the Central Bank of Nigeria.”

The letter read, “Further to your appearance before the Joint Committee on Wednesday, 25th June 2025, on the above subject matter, the Committees hereby direct as follows:

“Please note that the Auditor General for the Federation, in the performance of its constitutional mandate, reported to the House of Representatives a liability of N5.2tn in operating surplus due to the Federal Government of Nigeria for the years 2016 to 2022.

“This finding is corroborated by the Fiscal Responsibility Commission in a separate report submitted to the National Assembly. This represents a clear and unacceptable violation of the provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 (as amended).

“In a similar vein, it is pertinent to recall that the Finance Act 2020 mandates that dividends of all listed companies in Nigeria, which have remained unclaimed for six years or more, as well as balances in accounts dormant for six years in Deposit Money Banks, shall be transferred to an established fund known as the Unclaimed Funds Trust Fund.

“This fund is to be administered by a Governing Council comprising the Honourable Minister of Finance, the Debt Management Office, and other relevant bodies.

“The Honourable Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, via a legal opinion, confirmed that the Finance Act 2020 is the relevant law governing the control and management of dormant account balances under the oversight of the Governing Council. This contradicts the CBN’s position that the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act 2020 grants it the authority to manage and control dormant account balances.”

Consequently, the Committee urged CBN to “Remit the sum of N3.64tn to the Federal Government, being 70% of the N5.2tn in unpaid operating surplus, within 14 days from the date of receipt of this letter. This directive stands pending the final reconciliation of figures by all parties involved.

“The CBN shall furnish the Joint Committee with the total value of unclaimed dividends and dormant account balances on or before June 30, 2025. Punch

Banking

CBN debunks BDC recapitalisation deadline shift

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has debunked a news story circulating that suggested it had extended the deadline for the recapitalisation of Bureau De Change (BDC) operators to Dec. 31.

In a statement on Wednesday, Mrs Hakama Sidi Ali, CBN Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, described the information as false and misleading, stating that it should be disregarded.

According to her, the bank has not granted any such extension beyond the previously communicated deadline of June 3.

She urged the general public, journalists, media platforms, and all stakeholders to consistently verify information directly from official CBN sources.

She said such sources include the CBN website and authorised communication channels, before publishing or sharing news about the Bank and its regulatory directives.

“The CBN remains committed to ensuring transparency, stability, and compliance in the foreign exchange market and will continue to engage with all relevant stakeholders in accordance with its statutory mandate,” Sidi Ali said.

As part of the revised framework introduced in February 2024, BDCs are required to meet new minimum capital requirements: N2 billion for Tier-1 and N500 million for Tier-2 operators.

CBN in May 2024 issued new operational guidelines for BDCs, effective June 3, 2024, directing all existing BDCs to reapply for new licenses.

BDCs with Tier 1 licenses were expected to have a capital base of N2 billion, while those with Tier 2 licenses needed N500 million, with non-refundable license fees of N5 million and N2 million, respectively.

Both Tier 1 and Tier 2 BDCs were given six months to meet the minimum capital requirement for the license category applied for.

The apex bank later extended the recapitalisation deadline by an additional six months for BDC operators to meet the new capital threshold by June 3.