Business
Japan’s Nikkei Comes Back to Life
TOKYO – Japan’s benchmark stock index jumped to its highest closing level since May as a falling yen and strong earnings brought the market back to life after several months of listless trading.
The Nikkei Stock Average rose 2.1% to 14876.41 on Thursday, taking gains so far this week to 5.6%, on track for its third-best week of the year. The index traded in bull-market territory, meaning it has gained at least 20% intraday from its June 13 low, putting it within striking distance—4.8%—of the May 22 close, the highest since December 2007.
.Weakness in the yen in recent months has helped exporters such as Toyota Motor Corp. and Hitachi Ltd. to post impressive quarterly results, spurring the market higher. And the currency has softened in recent sessions, approaching the psychologically important ¥100 mark against the dollar.The Nikkei’s rise on Thursday “was a continuation of what we’ve seen over the last several days; hedge funds have been trying to ride the weak yen down and buying futures,” said Kenichi Hirano, a market analyst at Tachibana Securities in Tokyo. “Despite a lack of signs of any major tapering in the U.S. Fed’s easing policy—which would push up interest rates—the yen looks fundamentally weak, and players are now giving up betting against” further weakening.
Higher interest rates in the U.S. would likely increase the dollar’s value against all major currencies, including the yen. A weaker yen is typically beneficial for Japanese stocks because it gives exporters a pricing edge against competitors in countries with stronger currencies. As the currency weakens, companies receive more yen when they repatriate profits from overseas operations.
The dollar has strengthened against the yen this week, partly on news that the U.S. had added more jobs in October than expected. It briefly breached the ¥100 level Thursday after Finance Minister Taro Aso said, “Japan must have tools to counter speculative moves in the currency market,” giving investors a strong indication that the nation would probably push back against any tentative strengthening of the yen.Government data Thursday that showed the economy expanded at an annualized rate of 1.9% in the three months ended Sept. 30, beating forecasts for 1.7%, provided some support for the Nikkei’s move higher.
The stock index is on the move after several months of rangebound trading. Stocks surged dramatically in the first five months of year as investors bought into Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s pro-growth policies, but the rally came to an abrupt end in May. The index fell 7.3% in a single day, bottoming out a few weeks later in bear-market territory, indicating it has fallen 20% from a recent peak.
The loss of momentum in recent months has called into question Mr. Abe’s formula for growth, known as “Abenomics.” Mr. Abe has likened the elements of his plan to arrows. The first comprised aggressive monetary easing by the Bank of Japan, a move that yielded a sharp weakening of the yen, while the second element was increased spending on public works.
The third arrow, structural changes to bring sustainable growth to the economy, has been harder to get aloft, though the prime minister’s party has initiated legislation to tackle issues such as labor and agricultural reform.“Abenomics going forward will be OK, but it will not be the main driver of the market,” said Angelo Corbetta, head of Asia equity at Pioneer Investments in London, which managed assets totaling €168.9 billion at the end of September. “From now on, the companies will have to deliver, and we will see a separation between companies that deliver and those that cannot do that.”
Among companies in the first section of the Topix that have reported results for the first half of the April-March financial year, recurring profits have risen 50.7% from a year earlier, according to a recent Goldman Sachs research note. Earnings were 17.5% above guidance issued by the companies, and 49% of the companies earned more than the consensus forecast among analysts.
“It is true that rapid yen depreciation is not expected for now, and the policies for the Abenomics third arrow are not ones that we have expected,” said Kuninobu Takeuchi, chief general manager and senior portfolio manager at asset management company DIAM Co. in Tokyo, which manages $126 billion in assets. “However, I assume that the peak reached in May will be surpassed as earnings have been steadily recovering.”
– WALL STREET JOURNAL
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has increased the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) from 27.25% to 27.50%, marking a 25-basis-point hike.
The announcement was made on Tuesday by the CBN Governor, Yemi Cardoso, following the Monetary Policy Committee’s (MPC) final meeting for the year at the apex bank’s headquarters in Abuja.
Governor Cardoso stated that the decision to raise the MPR, which serves as Nigeria’s benchmark interest rate, was unanimously agreed upon by the committee.
He explained that the adjustment is part of efforts to address prevailing economic challenges while ensuring stability in the financial system.
Other key monetary policy parameters remain unchanged. The Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) stays at 50% for Deposit Money Banks and 16% for Merchant Banks.
Similarly, the Liquidity Ratio (LR) was maintained at 30%, with the Asymmetric Corridor retained at +500/-100 basis points around the MPR.
More to follow……….
In a blitz of honour, the Pan-Africa Conglomerate, Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), and its subsidiaries Dangote Cement Plc and Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals stole the show at the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) during its 2024 annual night of recognitions.
Biztellers reports that they carted away excellence awards bestowed by the private sector employers’ body, in Lagos, over the weekend.
Specifically, the Dangote Group was recognised under the Visible Impact Award for Resilience & Entrepreneurship; Dangote Cement won the Sectoral Excellence Award in the Chemical and Non-Metallic Products category, while the 650,000bpd capacity world’s largest single train refinery, Dangote Refinery won the Groundbreaking Investment award.
Basking in the euphoria of the recognitions, DIL’s Vice-President, Oil and Gas, Devakumar Edwin, described them as reflecting the values of the Dangote Group and its subsidiaries as top employers of labour showing resilience in the face of tough business operating environment.
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According to him, the award would only spur the management of Dangote to continue in the trajectory of the fine best global best practices in business with more investments in the task of rejuvenating the nation’s economy.
In the same vein, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole and her counterpart in Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN) were recipients of the “Visible Impact in Public Service Award.”
This year’s awards, dubbed “Defying the Odds”, NECA said, was geared towards promoting and encouraging best practices in Corporate Performance, People Management and Industrial Relations practices amongst employers in Nigeria.
This, it explained, was in a bid to celebrate outstanding contributions of enterprise to national development, noting that the award provided a platform for celebrating the resilience, doggedness and outstanding performance of employers in Nigeria.
In his welcome address, President of NECA, Dr. Ifeanyi Eric Okoye, noted that the award ceremony was to celebrate the excellence, resilience, innovation and unwavering commitment demonstrated by businesses across the various sectors of the Nigerian economy in 2024.
He said the Awards’ theme, “Defying the Odds,” reflected the indomitable spirit of the Nigerian enterprises that had consistently risen to the challenges posed by the dynamic and demanding local and global economic landscape.
Said he, “This annual ceremony is a testament to remarkable progress made by organisations that share our vision of a thriving private sector as the bedrock of national development. Over the years, the NECA’s Excellence Award has become a hallmark of prestige highlighting organisations that exemplify best practices in corporate governance, industrial relations and environmental sustainability.
“Our honours tonight do not only serve as a beacon of hope, and a reminder that in the face of adversities excellence is achievable, it is also an opportunity to increase visibility by highlighting their achievements and innovations to a wider audience.
“As we celebrate tonight, let us not only celebrate the achievements of the award recipients; let also celebrate all businesses here present and those that have left in the past few years and recommit ourselves to fostering innovation, inclusivity and resilience in all that we do. Together we can build a future where Nigerian enterprises thrive as global leaders.”
In the same vein, the Director General of NECA, Mr. Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, explained that the awards were a statement that, irrespective of the challenges the private sector employers have been facing “since January till now, there is time for all of us to sit down and just breathe and celebrate the resilience, doggedness, innovations your businesses were able to bring on-board and their contributions to national development”.
Oyerinde stated further: “So, we are gathered this evening to celebrate your businesses, contribution and support to NECA. We have broken away from the traditional issues of labour and employment that you know us with and are now dealing with all fundamental issues that affect your businesses either now or in the future like Environmental, Social and Governance in sustainability issues.
“We are also deepening our collaboration with CIPE moving into the realms of ethics with emphasis on doing business correctly. We are also deepening our engagements with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in the context of responsible business conduct for our members to operate responsibly within the context of the law.
“This strengthens our hands to advocate against unfavourable business regulations that see businesses as cash cows rather than agents of national development.”
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by Head of Service, Lagos State, Mr. Shuaheeb Agoro, commended the NECA for its remarkable legacy of championing enterprise, competitiveness, responsible business practices and industrial harmony describing the award as another remarkable way of motivating employers in the private sector.
Sanwo-Olu said, “This year’s theme could not to be more apt as it speaks to the determination that Nigerian employers have continued to demonstrate in overcoming challenges to sustain businesses, create jobs and drive national development. This resilience is a reflection of enduring entrepreneurial spirit that defines our great nation.”
The governor pointed out that the award inspires the culture of best practices in corporate governance, industrial relations, environmental sustainability and responsible business conduct.”
Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 3.46% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2024, marking a strong performance compared to the 2.54% growth recorded during the same period in 2023 and 3.19% in Q2 2024, according to the latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The growth was largely fueled by the services sector, which expanded by 5.19% and contributed 53.58% to the overall GDP.
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“The performance of the GDP in the third quarter of 2024 was driven mainly by the services sector,” the NBS stated in its report.
Key areas in this sector, including financial institutions, telecommunications, and trade, played significant roles in the economy’s growth.
The agriculture sector, while still positive, showed a slight slowdown, growing by 1.14%, compared to 1.30% in Q3 2023.
The industrial sector, however, posted a notable recovery, increasing by 2.18%, a marked improvement from the 0.46% recorded in the same quarter of 2023.
In nominal terms, Nigeria’s GDP at basic price for Q3 2024 reached N71.13 trillion, a substantial 17.26% increase from the N60.66 trillion recorded in Q3 2023.
“This performance is higher when compared to the third quarter of 2023, which recorded an aggregate GDP of N60,658,600.37 million, indicating a year-on-year nominal growth of 17.26%,” the NBS added.
The non-oil sector also showed strong performance, growing by 3.37% in real terms during Q3 2024, outperforming the 2.75% growth seen in the same quarter of 2023 and exceeding the 2.80% growth recorded in Q2 2024.
“The sector was driven in the third quarter of 2024 mainly by financial and insurance (financial institutions); information and communication (telecommunications); agriculture (crop production); transportation and storage (road transport); trade; and construction, accounting for positive GDP growth,” the NBS explained.
Despite the growth in the non-oil sector, its share of the total GDP decreased slightly to 94.43%, compared to 94.52% in Q3 2023, though it remained higher than 94.30% in Q2 2024.
The oil sector, in contrast, recorded a 5.17% year-on-year growth in Q3 2024, reversing the -0.85% decline seen in the same period in 2023.
However, growth slowed from the 10.15% recorded in Q2 2024. The NBS reported that Nigeria’s oil production averaged 1.47 million barrels per day (mbpd) during the third quarter, a slight increase from 1.45 mbpd in Q3 2023 and 1.41 mbpd in Q2 2024.
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