Business
Argentina to Ease Currency Controls After Devaluation
NEW YORK – Argentina scrapped some of its currency controls a day after devaluing the peso as policy makers sought to stem a financial crisis and restore investor confidence by reversing measures that drove foreign reserves to a seven-year low.
Bonds fell and the cost to insure the South American nation’s debt against default soared to a three-month high as traders bet the move could backfire and lead to further dollar outflows. The peso dropped 1.9 percent to 8.0307 per dollar at 12:57 p.m. in Buenos Aires, extending its plunge this week to 18 percent, the worst selloff since a devaluation that followed the country’s record sovereign default in 2001.
The currency market overhaul is the latest, and boldest, measure tried by President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner as she seeks to win back investors, regain access to international debt markets, shore up a faltering economy and curb inflation that soared to 28 percent last year. The increase to 23.8 percent in the annual cost to protect the nation’s debt against default makes it the most expensive in the world.
The easing of controls is an attempt to stem panic among Argentines, said Siobhan Morden, head of Latin America fixed income strategy at Jefferies Group LLC. “They are hoping it creates less panicky demand for dollars.”
She said the country needs to implement additional measures such as curbing money supply growth to make the foreign-exchange policy changes effective.
“Markets will give them a day or two,” Morden said. “But if there’s no follow-up, the prices trade lower again.”
Black Market
Cabinet Chief Jorge Capitanich, who was appointed in November to help reshape government policies, unveiled the currency market changes in Buenos Aires today.
Argentines will be able to buy dollars in proportion to their income, and a 35 percent redeemable tax on buying foreign currency will be cut to 20 percent, he said. Currently, Argentines are often denied requests to buy dollars from the central bank, fueling illegal street trading in which the peso has changed hands at as little as half the value. Policy makers are trying to close the gap between the two exchange rates.
“Our administered currency policy has reached an acceptable level of convergence for our economic objectives,” Capitanich said at the presidential palace.
After a surge in economic growth fueled by rising commodity export prices following the default, the government has implemented a series of unsustainable measures and is being forced to reverse tack, Nobel laureate economist Joseph Stiglitz said.
Forced Changes
“Reality will clearly force some changes: you have to live within your means, if your currency is going down, it means you’re going to be paying more for your imports,” Stiglitz, a Columbia University professor, said in an interview today on Bloomberg Television. “They will have to change their policies and the question is when and how.”
Fernandez’s policies of printing money to fund social spending on subsidies while freezing utility rates amid accelerating inflation are unraveling as the budget deficit widens and funding from the treasury and pension fund grows. Investment in South America’s second-largest economy has tumbled amid import controls and delays in approving company dividend repatriations.
The International Monetary Fund, which censured Argentina last year for misreporting inflation, predicts economic growth will slow to 2.8 percent this year, about half the 5.1 percent average across developing nations.
Yield Spread
The cost to insure Argentine debt against default for five years soared the most since August, climbing 1.94 percentage points to 23.76 percentage points, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
The extra yield investors demand to buy Argentine bonds instead of U.S. Treasuries widened 16 basis points, or 0.16 percentage point, to 1,012 basis points, according to data compiled by JPMorgan Chase & Co. The peso’s plunge to a record low has made it the world’s worst performer this year.
“Those who wanted us to believe that the dollar was worth 1 peso now want us to believe that it’s worth 13,” Economy Minister Axel Kicillof said today.
Capital Flight
After winning re-election in 2011, Fernandez began to restrict access to foreign currency amid capital flight that surged to a record $21 billion that year. Since then, the government has implemented more than 30 measures to cut access, including taxes on credit card purchases and limits on online spending, that have failed to curb dollar demand.
Reserves have tumbled at a rate of $1.1 billion a month over the past year to a seven-year low of $29.3 billion. Energy imports increased 23 percent to $11.4 billion in 2013 while exports fell 24 percent to $5.3 billion.
Reserves have fallen about $18 billion since October 2011, when the government began to limit access to foreign currency.
In the first three quarters of 2013, the nation posted a current account deficit of $1.27 billion, the largest for that period since its economic crisis. Argentina’s trade surplus narrowed 27 percent to $9 billion in 2013 as fuel imports rose and soy prices dropped 28 percent, while producers withheld stocks of the oilseed waiting for the peso to weaken further.
The easing of restrictions may allow the government to stabilize currency imbalances and promote investment, former central bank president Mario Blejersaid in an interview in Davos.
“All measures that seek to reduce the chaos and intervention” in the currency market “would tend towards stabilizing the situation,” Blejer said. “A devaluation was needed because the exchange rate policy has been erratic in the past years.”
– BLOOMBERG
Shareholders of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group) have commended the Board and Management for the Group’s performance and strategic direction, urging continued focus on growth and long-term value creation.
At the Group’s 65th Annual General Meeting (AGM), shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025, alongside key resolutions including a final dividend of ₦2.00 per share, a one-for-three bonus share issue, and the corresponding increase in share capital. The re-election of Dr. Umaru Kwairanga, Group Chairman, Board of Directors, Dr. Okechukwu Itanyi, Independent Non-Executive Director and Mrs. Ojinika Olaghere, Independent Non-Executive Director reinforced continuity in governance and oversight.
They acknowledged the Group’s disciplined execution and its role in strengthening the Nigerian capital market, noting that recent developments reflect a more structured and better-regulated market environment.
Speaking during the meeting, the President, New Dimension Shareholders Association, Patrick Ajudua, commended the leadership of the Group for delivering a strong financial outcome, noting that the results reflect both improved market conditions and deliberate strategic execution. “The numbers speak to a business that is gaining strength and direction,” he said.
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Similarly, the Chairman of the Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Boniface Okezie, lauded the Group’s commitment to innovation and infrastructure development. “The market is becoming more forward-looking, supported by strong leadership at the Group level. Initiatives around market infrastructure and participation are yielding results, and this is positive for investors,” he noted.
Commenting during the AGM, Chairman of NGX Group, Umaru Kwairanga, appreciated shareholders for their continued support and reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to sustainable value delivery. He said, “The progress recorded reflects the strength of the Group’s strategy and the performance of its operating businesses. As a Board, our responsibility is to ensure disciplined oversight, uphold strong governance standards, and position NGX Group to deliver sustainable, long-term value to shareholders.”
Temi Popoola, group managing director/chief executive officer, focused on execution priorities, noting that the Group is positioning for scale. He said, “This next phase is about deepening momentum. Our priority is to scale infrastructure, broaden participation, and unlock new pathways for capital formation.”
The meeting reflected strong shareholder confidence in NGX Group’s leadership, with the Group reaffirming its commitment to playing a central role in the evolution of Nigeria’s capital market while delivering sustained returns to investors.
Sierra Leone has announced the signing of a petroleum licence agreement with Nigeria‑based Marginal Energy Limited, granting the company offshore exploration and production rights as the government seeks to revive interest in its under‑explored upstream sector.
The licence, signed through the Petroleum Directorate of Sierra Leone (PDSL), covers offshore blocks G‑145, G‑146, G‑147, G‑160 and G‑161, spanning about 6,800 square kilometres, according to a government statement, a Reuters report said.
Marginal Energy, a Nigerian independent, has committed to a seismic and drilling programme with exploration spending expected to exceed $225 million.
Under the agreement, the state will hold a 10 percent carried interest in oil projects and 5 percent in gas during exploration and development, with an option to acquire an additional participating interest on a paid basis of up to 9 percent once production begins.
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The deal was signed at the Invest in African Energy conference in Paris, where Sierra Leone has been promoting offshore licensing opportunities to international investors, the report added.
NASCON Allied Industries Plc has rewarded its shareholders with a historic 200 per cent increase in dividend payout, underscoring a remarkable financial performance that saw profit after tax surge by over 100 per cent to N33.5 billion in the 2025 financial year, despite a challenging operating environment.
The strong performance was unveiled at the Company’s 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Lagos, where shareholders applauded the resilience, focus and strategic discipline of NASCON’s management and Board.
Reflecting the robust results, the Board of Directors approved a dividend of N6 per share—the highest since the Company was listed on the Nigerian Exchange, signalling NASCON’s confidence in its financial strength and long-term growth prospects.
Earnings per share (EPS) rose sharply by 115 per cent, from 577 kobo in the previous year to 1,241 kobo. Describing the outcome as the best financial performance in NASCON’s history, the Chairman, Mr. Olakunle Alake, attributed the results to improved operational efficiency, strict cost management and the dedication of the Company’s workforce.
“The operating environment in 2025 was characterised by economic volatility, persistent inflation and structural changes across key sectors,” Alake said. “Yet, NASCON remained resilient and strategically focused, delivering outstanding value to shareholders.”
He noted that operational sustainability remains a core pillar of the Company’s strategy. During the year, NASCON introduced Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks into its logistics fleet to reduce fuel costs and minimise exposure to diesel price volatility. In addition, the Company’s state-of-the-art salt refinery, its largest production facility, now runs entirely on natural gas, significantly boosting efficiency while reinforcing NASCON’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
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The Managing Director, Mrs. Aderemi Saka, highlighted key milestones recorded during the year, including a 27 per cent growth in revenue and exceptional returns to shareholders through dividends. She attributed the achievements to a clear strategic vision, disciplined execution and sustained focus on cost-saving initiatives across production, logistics and fleet management.
Looking ahead to 2026, Saka reaffirmed management’s determination to build on the current momentum. She outlined strategic priorities for the coming year, including deeper cost optimisation, expanded market penetration, strengthened energy diversification and sustainability initiatives, as well as accelerated digital transformation and process automation.
In her remarks, Director Mrs. Tonya Lawani emphasised that the Company remains firmly committed to the principles that have driven its excellent performance, noting that NASCON approaches the new financial year from a position of strength, with further opportunities for growth and improvement.
Speaking on behalf of shareholders, Dr. Faruk Umar expressed strong confidence in the Company’s trajectory, citing NASCON’s rising share price, which recently crossed the N100 mark, and projecting further appreciation. He commended the quality of the Board and management team, noting that strong leadership and recent executive appointments have positioned the Company to deliver even greater value to all stakeholders.
With its record-breaking profit, unprecedented dividend payout and forward-looking strategy, NASCON Allied Industries Plc continues to consolidate its position as a leading force in Nigeria’s manufacturing sector while delighting shareholders with sustained value creation.
Photo Caption:
From Left: Company Secretary, NASCON Allied Industries Plc, Oluseun Oluwole; Chairman, NASCON Allied Industries Plc, Olakunle Alake; Managing Director, NASCON Allied Industries Plc, Aderemi Saka; Non-Executive Director, NASCON Allied Industries Plc, Fatima Aliko Dangote; Independent Director, NASCON Allied Industries Plc, Tonya Lawani, at the NASCON Allied Industries Plc 2025 Annual General Meeting held in Lagos on Monday, April 27, 2026
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