Business
U.S. stocks stall
WASHINGTON – U.S. stocks erased an opening rally to trade little changed, as investors started the first full week of the year in a cautious mood.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost three points, or less than 0.1%, to 16467 in recent trade. On Friday, the Dow rose 29 points, or 0.2%, but closed down on the week.
The S&P 500 index edged up one point, or less than 0.1%, to 1832 and the Nasdaq Composite Index slipped nine points, or 0.2%, to 4123.
The S&P 500 slipped less than 0.1% on Friday, while suffering back-to-back losses to start a new year for the first time since 2005.
“It wasn’t a surprise that investors hold off and take some profit after a great year in 2013,” said Sam Stovall, chief equity strategist at S&P Capital IQ. For Monday, “it’s the first day you have the global investment community back, and focusing on equities,” he said, and investors should see that nothing has changed since the market ended the year on a high note. He added that history suggests “good years often follow great years.”Karyn Cavanaugh, market strategist at ING U.S. Investment Management, which manages about $200 billion, said the Federal Reserve is handing the reins back to the market, but that’s a good thing for stocks.
“When the market is in control, there is going to be some volatility,” Ms. Cavanaugh said. But the global economy is moving forward, and earnings are looking good, “and that’s really what your guide post is,” she said.
Ms. Cavanaugh added that investors should not let what happened in 2013 influence their outlook for 2014. “The market doesn’t go down just because it’s tired, or because it went up a lot,” she said. “Earnings are looking better, and that’s the North Star” for investors.
The Institute for Supply Management’s nonmanufacturing purchasing managers index for December is expected to show a rise to 54.5 from 53.9 in November, and factory orders for November are seen rising 1.5% on the month.
Meanwhile, investors will be looking ahead to a reading on private-sector jobs growth and the minutes to the Federal Reserve’s December policy meeting on Wednesday, and the government’s monthly employment report on Friday.Separately, the Senate is scheduled to vote on the confirmation of Federal Reserve Vice Chairwoman Janet Yellen to succeed Chairman Ben Bernanke.
Alcoa unofficially kicks off earnings season later this week. The former Dow component will report fourth-quarter results after Thursday’s close.
S&P Capital IQ’s Mr. Stovall said expectations for earnings growth is about the same as at the end of the third quarter. “It’s nice to know that the starting number, that is usually improved upon, is equal to the third quarter,” he said. “If history holds true, reality will end up being better than expectations.”
The yield on the 10-year Treasury note eased slightly to 2.980% after settling at 2.997% late Friday.
February crude-oil futures gained 0.2% to $94.14 a barrel, after settling at a one-month low on Friday. January gold futures advanced 0.2% to $1,240.50 an ounce.
The dollar lost ground against the yen and the euro, while the Turkish lira continued to come under heavy pressure against the dollar, as a probe into corruption moved closer to the heart of the country’s ruling party.European markets edged higher after data showing the euro zone’s services sector expanded in line with expectations. The Stoxx Europe 600 inched up 0.1%, erasing an earlier loss of as much as 0.3%.
The euro-zone services purchasing managers index for December came in at 51, down slightly from 51.2 in November, but matching forecasts, as strength in Spain helped offset some slowing in France. Readings above 50 signal expansion.
In Asia, Tokyo led the region lower as strength in the yen, which had bounced back against the dollar over the three-day new year holiday in Japan, weighed on the country’s exporters. Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average slumped 2.3%. China’s Shanghai Composite dropped 1.8% to a five-month low.
In corporate news, Sirius XM Holdings gained after Liberty Media announced plans late Friday to make the satellite-radio provider a wholly owned subsidiary. Liberty now owns about 52% of Sirius. Liberty Media’s Class A shares fell.
Men’s Wearhouse raised its offer to buy fellow men’s apparel retailer Jos. A Bank Clothiers to about $1.6 billion, after Jos. A Bank rejected the previous offer of roughly $1.5 billion. Jos. A Bank and Men’s Wearhouse both gained.
– WALLSTREET JOURNAL
Nigeria’s inflation rate surged to 33.88% in October 2024, up from 32.7% in September, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Friday.
The month-on-month increase of 1.18 percentage points marks yet another strain on the nation’s economy, with transportation and food costs cited as the main drivers of inflation.
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Steep Year-on-Year Increase
Compared to October 2023, when the inflation rate stood at 27.33%, the October 2024 figure reflects a significant rise of 6.55 percentage points. This sustained upward trend highlights the worsening cost-of-living crisis for Nigerians.
Month-on-Month Breakdown
Inflation on a month-on-month basis also showed an uptick, rising to 2.64% in October 2024 from 2.52% in September. The faster rate of price increases further underscores the growing economic pressure on households.
Food Inflation Soars to 39.16%
Food inflation, a major component of the headline rate, reached 39.16% in October 2024, up from 31.52% in the same month last year.
The increase was driven by higher prices of staple items, including: Cereals and Tubers: Guinea Corn, Rice, Maize Grains, Yam, Water Yam, and Coco Yam. Oils and Fats: Palm Oil and Vegetable Oil. Beverages: Milo, Lipton, and Bourvita.
On a month-on-month basis, food inflation rose by 0.30 percentage points to 2.94% in October, up from 2.64% in September.
Price hikes in Palm Oil, Vegetable Oil, Fish, Meat, and Bread categories were major contributors.
Annual Food Inflation Hits 38.12%
The average annual food inflation rate over the past 12 months climbed to 38.12%, a sharp increase of 11.79 percentage points from the 26.33% recorded in October 2023.
The consistent rise in inflation, particularly food and transportation costs, continues to erode the purchasing power of Nigerians.
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has expressed the view that support of both Nigerians and the government for the Dangote Refinery, would enable the giant refinery to perform optimally.
It added that such support will also serve as an impetus for other investors to invest in the downstream sector of the petroleum industry in Nigeria.
The President of MAN, Otunba Francis Meshioye, who made the call after a tour of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Petrochemical Complex and Fertilizer Plant advocated that Nigerians and the government should do all they can to support the multi-billion-dollar company, which he described as a source of pride and a gift not only to Nigeria but also to the African continent and the whole world.
He described the Dangote Refinery as a game-changer in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, saying that it is not only creating jobs and driving economic growth but also contributing to our nation’s energy security and self-sufficiency.
According to him, the project is quite inspiring, and he admired the inspiration of the promoter of the project, Aliko Dangote.
He said, “To have been inspired to establish this facility is very magnificent, it is the first ever in Africa and the first ever of such refinery in the whole world. It has many first, first and first.”
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The company has the capacity to produce all our needs locally, petroleum, and other similar products: no one would come to the facility and he would not be inspired or encouraged to ensure that all the support that the company requires should be given to it.
The MAN President said the government should do all that is humanly possible to ensure that the facility works Optimally. “It is prudent and expedient that the necessary supports are given to the company for the economic benefits of Nigeria.
“If the facility can produce 650,000 barrels of crude per day and Nigeria is producing far above this volume per day, she should give the facility all crude it needed to produce”.
He noted that apart from the fact that the facility can give Nigerians what they need locally, the excess will be exported, and when they are exported, the country benefits because it will earn foreign exchange for the government.
“So, whichever way we look at it, the facility requires the government’s support to be able to operate optimally. We have seen the laboratory which is in a class of its own. It is first among equals around the world. It is functioning very well. It is a complex on its own.
“With this kind of facility that starts from quality control to quality assurance, just to ensure that the harmful effects of the products are at zero level, what can be greater than this? This is very unique and I will encourage all stakeholders to give maximum support, and not by the way support, but maximum support.
“I cannot see anything that is lacking in this company, we have been here since morning and went through all the units. The facility can deliver products between 1760 trucks to 1800 trucks per day. So if you have such several trucks going out of the facility a day to various destinations in Nigeria, so many people will benefit from it. There will be more jobs, many families will be comfortable because of the jobs this will create, many artisans will benefit and it will have a spillover effect on so many sectors of the economy.
“If they can produce AGO, gasoline and Jet A fuel, this is good and the government should have no reason not to ensure the facility gets its backing to carry out its activities, because it is going to benefit massively,” he added.
The MAN boss who stated that his organization is an advocacy group, said to a large extent it will support the Dangote Refinery by pushing its case with the government, and also solicit the support of necessary government agencies that can ensure that it operates fully.
The association, he said, always discusses with the government issues that affect its members and it has always listened to it , and always finds solutions to those issues, stating further that Dangote Refinery’s case will not be different.
“The sheer scale and ambition of this project is truly impressive, and we applaud the vision and determination of the Dangote Group in making this refinery a reality.
As manufacturers, we understand the importance of reliable and affordable energy in driving our businesses forward. The Dangote Refinery will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the entire manufacturing value chain, providing a reliable source of fuel and petrochemical products that are essential for capacity utilisation and value addition.
“I believe that the success of the Dangote Refinery serves as an inspiration to all of us in the manufacturing sector. It demonstrates what is possible when we combine innovation, technology, and investment to create world-class facilities that benefit the entire nation,” he asserted.
Bitcoin surpassed the $91,000 mark for the first time on Wednesday, continuing its postelection momentum as traders digested the latest U.S. inflation data.
The cryptocurrency climbed over 2% in trading, reaching a high of $91,705.
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The surge came after the October Consumer Price Index (CPI) report showed prices increased by 0.2%, bringing the annual inflation rate to 2.6%, a result that was largely in line with analysts’ expectations.
The steady inflation data fueled investor confidence in assets like Bitcoin, which is often viewed as a hedge against inflation due to its limited supply.
Bitcoin’s recent rally has coincided with a broader uptick in risk assets since the U.S. presidential election.
Investors seem optimistic that fiscal policies under the new administration could drive further growth in the crypto market, though some remain cautious about inflationary pressures.
Other major cryptocurrencies followed Bitcoin’s upward trajectory.
Ether and Solana both saw gains of around 1%.
Dogecoin, meanwhile, soared by 8%, building on its postelection boost.
The meme-inspired token has seen increased attention following the news that Tesla CEO Elon Musk played a role in President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign and has join his administration,
Analysts say that this shift could continue as inflation and fiscal policy debates evolve in the months ahead.
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