Business
Emerging Markets Suffer as Dollar Rises
WASHINGTON – The South African rand sank to a fresh five-year low Thursday, as a rise in the dollar, fueled by strong U.S. jobs data, kept emerging market currencies under pressure.
The Turkish lira also suffered, closing in on its all-time low against the dollar reached earlier in the week. The rand and the lira are widely considered to be among the most vulnerable emerging market currencies, as both South Africa and Turkey are reliant on foreign investment flows to fund their wide current account deficits.
On Wednesday, December job growth in the U.S. private sector increased to 238,000 from 215,000 in November. It was expected to slip to 200,000. The report, the latest sign of strength for the U.S. economy, boosted demand for the dollar, which continued into Thursday’s European sessionMarkets were also digesting minutes from the December meeting of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s decision-making committee, the FOMC, at which it had decided to cut back on its bond-buying program.
The minutes showed that most officials had backed an initial paring of the Fed’s stimulus efforts, although some worried that the recovery might be too fragile.
“Investors are nervous the U.S. Fed might change its forward guidance in the context of better economic performance [and raise interest rates sooner than expected],” said Benoit Anne, head of global emerging market strategy at Société Générale. Higher rates would boost the appeal of the U.S. currency.
The dollar climbed 0.2% to 10.813 against the rand, its strongest level against the South African currency since October 2008. The buck also added 0.2% against the lira to 2.193. In Turkey, a political corruption scandal has heaped further pressure on the currency in recent weeks.
Beleaguered emerging market currencies may suffer further declines before investors step in to pick up bargains, said Hakan Aksoy, senior emerging markets portfolio manager for Pioneer Investments, who helps to oversee 4 billion euros ($5.43 billion) of emerging market debt and high yield.“One of the key issues is that cost of funding in developed countries has increased. It will get better, but to invest in those currencies, we need to see prices falling more,” he said. Mr. Aksoy currently favors other emerging market bonds over those issued by Turkey and South Africa in his portfolios.
Elsewhere, European stock markets fell slightly, echoing a similar move on Wall Street after the release of minutes from December’s FOMC meeting.
Elsewhere, European stock markets wavered between small losses and gains, ahead of Thursday’s European Central Bank meeting. The Stoxx Europe 600 picked up from early losses to trade 0.2% higher midmorning. The ECB isn’t expected to introduce any new easing measures, but could sound a dovish note at its news conference after euro-zone inflation slowed further in December.
Germany’s DAX added 0.4%, while the U.K.’s FTSE 100 was up 0.3%.
U.S. markets were poised to recoup some of Wednesday’s losses, which came despite the strong jobs data. Around four hours before the start of trading, futures contracts indicated an opening gain of 0.3% for the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Changes in futures don’t always accurately predict market moves after the opening bell.In bond markets, the strong run for debt issued by Europe’s former crisis hot spots continued, with a well-received Spanish five-year bond auction. There were also initial indications of strong demand at a Portuguese debt sale.
In the secondary market, Spain’s 10-year yield fell to a fresh 4½ year low of 3.72%. Bond yields fall as prices rise.
In commodities markets, gold was up 0.1% at $1226.9, and Brent Crude climbed 0.6% to $107.82 a barrel.
In corporate news, there were some gloomy signs in the U.K. retail sector.
Shares in supermarket giant Tesco fell after it reported a further slide in sales over the Christmas period, depressed by weak U.K. demand and continued declines in its international markets. Morrisons was also among the decliners after saying full-year profit would be at the low end of market expectations.
Mark & Spencer was a brighter spot, seeing its shares reverse early declines, as investors weighed disappointing overall sales figures against a better showing in the important Christmas season.
– WALLSTREET JOURNAL
The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC JV) – Operator of the NNPC Limited, SPDC, TotalEnergies and Nigerian Agip Oil Company Joint Venture – has, announced the donation of US$1 million to support efforts to provide relief to over half a million people displaced in flood impacted communities of Borno State.
Managing Director, SPDC, and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Osagie Okunbor, said, “The donation will go into the procurement and distribution of relief materials and medical supplies for displaced residents who are now in urgent need of critical aid.”
He added that a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), local to the region with understanding of working with displaced people, will manage the distribution of the materials in collaboration with the Borno State Emergency Management Agency.
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According to Okunbor, the SPDC JV intervention was in response to the alert issued in September by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), following the significant rise in water levels caused by the overflowing of the Alau Dam, and the calls for support by Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum.
“We consider providing this support to be of necessity to demonstrate our commitment to our society and the duty of care to our people. It expresses our deep concern for the victims of the devastating floods in Borno State,” Okunbor said.
He noted that the SPDC Joint Venture’s gesture is a continuation of similar assistance given over the years to the region that is recovering from recent conflicts.
Chief Upstream Operating Officer of the NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), Bala Wunti, in a statement, added, “The urgency in providing this relief is important given the region’s existing vulnerabilities, with people recently barely recovering from conflict-induced displacement. The flooding has severely disrupted socio-economic activities, with women and children being disproportionately affected and we are glad that the joint venture is able to provide succour at this time.”
Wunti said, “As a responsible corporate organization, NNPC is glad to support the SPDC Joint Venture in this essential activity. Our thoughts are with those affected and with the government agencies working tirelessly to provide relief. We pledge to support ongoing efforts through immediate humanitarian aid and long-term partnerships for sustainable recovery.”
Investors on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) saw a boost of N217 billion added to their portfolios on Thursday, with the All-Share Index rising by 0.37% to close at 96,924.86 points.
This increase also lifted market capitalization to N58.73 trillion, driving the year-to-date return to 29.62%.
The insurance, consumer goods, oil and gas, and industrial goods sectors saw gains, increasing by 1.84%, 0.01%, 1.77%, and 0.02%, respectively, while the banking sector experienced a slight decline of 0.38%.
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A total of 33 stocks advanced, with top gainers including Conoil, Aradel, Eunisell, John Holt, and Thomas Wyatt. Meanwhile, Tantalizer, NGX Group, and Wema Bank were among the 17 decliners.
Trading activity surged with a 744.54% increase in volume and 16.48% increase in value, as 744.54 million shares worth N16.48 billion were traded across 9,700 deals. Consolidated Hallmark led in volume with 124.8 million shares, followed by Japaul Gold and EllahLakes. FBN Holdings, which recently opened its N150 billion rights issue, also featured prominently on the volume chart.
This robust trading activity highlights renewed investor confidence and growing momentum in Nigeria’s capital market.
Nigeria would soon have her own definition of free market, albeit by judicial interpretation, so long as the petroleum sector is concerned.
This follows the legal tussle on the legality of importation of refined products into Nigeria, on the heels of the deregulation of that sector.
Biztellers reports that three oil marketers, AYM Shafa Limited, A. A. Rano Limited, and Matrix Petroleum Services Limited, have approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, praying for a dismissal of a suit filed by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals (DPRP) to stop them from importing refined petroleum products.
The marketers, in response to an originating summon filed by the DPRP, filed a joint counter affidavit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1324/2024, and dated November 5, 2024.
They maintained that granting the application of the DPRP would spell doom for Nigeria’s oil sector.
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Their legal and economic argument assert that any form of monopoly for Nigeria’s oil sector is a recipe for disaster.
Recall that the DPRP in its originating summon dated September 6, 2024, had sued the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC Ltd), AYM Shafa Limited, A. A. Rano Limited, T. Time Petroleum Limited, 2015 Petroleum Limited, and Matrix Petroleum Services Limited as 1st to 7th defendants respectively.
Specifically, the DPRP prayed the court to declare that the NMDPRA was in violation of Sections 317(8) and (9) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) by issuing licenses for the importation of petroleum products.
It asserted that such licenses should only be issued in circumstances where there is a petroleum product shortfall.
Consequently, the DPRP urged the court to declare that the NMDPRA was in violation of its statutory responsibilities under the PIA for not encouraging local refineries, the DPRP inclusive.
As a result, Shafa, A. A. Rano, and Matrix Petroleum, countered that the DPRP does not produce adequate petroleum products for the daily consumption of Nigerians.
According to their affidavit, the plaintiff had not placed anything before the court to prove the contrary.
They argued that they are well qualified and entitled to be issued an import licence by the NMDPRA to import petroleum products in Nigeria within the meaning of Section 317(9) of the PIA.
They also noted that they are fully qualified for the issuance of the import licences issued to them by the 1st defendant, as they duly met all the legal requirements for the issuance of such import licences, before the same were issued to them.
They categorically stated that, “The import licences lawfully and validly issued to the defendants did not in any way whatsoever, cripple the plaintiff’s business or its refinery.
“The import licenses issued to the defendants by the 1st defendant are in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018, and other relevant laws.”
They insisted that giving the DPRP the power of monopoly in Nigeria’s petroleum industry as it sought in the instant suit, would kill competitive pricing of petroleum products in the country.
They cautioned that such an act would further deteriorate the country’s critically ailing economy.
They also added that it would “unleash untold hardship on Nigerians, all of which constitute a recipe for disaster in the polity”.
The marketers explained that if Nigeria puts all her energy eggs in one basket by stopping the importation of petroleum products and allowing the plaintiff to be the sole producer and supplier of petroleum products in Nigeria, with liberty to determine the prices at which it supplies the products, the prices of petroleum products will continue to rise and energy security will elude Nigeria.
In addition, they pointed out that should the DPRP break down being a monopolized sector, Nigeria would be plunged into a-difficult-to-manage energy crisis.
“That in the event of any breakdown in or obstruction to the production chain of the plaintiff which stops it from producing, Nigeria will be thrown into energy crises because it does not have the reserves that would last it for at least 30 days that it would need to order, pay for, freight and import refined products into tanks in Nigeria.
“That amidst the glaring absence of any credible and demonstrable proof that the plaintiff refines and supplies adequate petroleum products for the daily use/consumption of Nigerians, is a recipe for disaster in Nigeria’s energy sector,” they wrote.
They further told the court that granting the reliefs sought by the plaintiff was a design to leave Nigeria and Nigerians at the mercy of the plaintiff with respect to the availability and cost of purchasing petroleum products in the country.
The presiding judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo fixed January 20, 2025, for a report of settlement or service.
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