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 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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