Business
China Brews a Storm in Currency Teacup
BEIJING – China’s secretive currency managers certainly know how to conjure up a storm.
The usually predictable Chinese yuan took a dive over the past week, its first sustained weakness against the dollar since 2012. The People’s Bank of China has guided the yuan 0.5% weaker by moving its daily target rate lower. That is despite pressure from traders, who work within the currency’s narrow trading band, to let it strengthen.
It is a fast and big move for the tightly controlled currency. The freely traded Hong Kong flavor of the yuan, which is a leveraged reflection of its onshore cousin, has fallen a more dramatic 1.3%.
The most obvious explanation is that China wants to flush speculators out of a trade that seemed to go in one direction: toward yuan strength. The yuan’s low volatility and steady 3% appreciation against the dollar last year made it like catnip for carry-trade investors burned by the likes of the Indian rupee and the Turkish lira. Now yuan investors are the ones feeling some heat.
Beijing has accepted a long-term strengthening of its currency, as evidenced by the yuan’s 20% rise in trade-weighted terms since 2010, according to UBS UBSN.VX -0.05% economist Wong Tao. What it doesn’t like is speculative cash that piggybacks on that appreciation. Such inflows put pressure on the government to either allow the currency to rise more than it desires, harming the export sector, or absorb the inflows by accumulating currency reserves. Reserves grew last year by $510 billion to $3.8 trillion.
It is likely a chunk of those inflows didn’t come through wholly legitimate means. Two of the biggest inflow generators—export earnings and foreign direct investment—have in the past been manipulated by companies that work on both sides of the border to sneak in cash, to take advantage of higher interest rates and other investment opportunities. An increase in cross-border bank lending, especially Hong Kong banks’ trade-finance loans, seems to have fueled some of these bets.
A risk is that if investors sense Beijing wants the appreciation trend to take a prolonged breather to boost the slowing economy, capital might flow back out. It is highly unlikely that China’s reserves-rich, risk-averse currency managers will let the currency drop substantially. But by guiding the currency lower in the short term, Beijing hopes to prevent an unwinding of the yuan trade from causing real damage.
– WALLSTREET JOURNAL
Business
Pinnacle Convenes 2026 Vendors’ Forum
With a view to improving operational efficiency, safety, compliance and service delivery across its operations, Pinnacle Oil & Gas Limited has reaffirmed commitment to building stronger relationships with its vendors.
The company made the commitment at its 2026 Vendors’ Forum held in Lagos under the theme, “Partnering for Operational Excellence,” with the sub-theme, “Strengthening Partnerships Through Compliance, Safety, Performance and Innovation.”
The forum brought together more than 100 existing and prospective vendors as well as key stakeholders, both physically and virtually, to strengthen collaboration and align suppliers with the company’s operational standards and growth strategy.
Speaking at the event, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Pinnacle Oil & Gas, Adenike Labinjo, described vendors as strategic partners whose commitment to quality, innovation, safety and compliance is critical to the company’s success.
She said as Pinnacle continues to expand its operations, it has become increasingly important for the company and its vendors to share a common understanding of expectations, responsibilities and performance standards.
Labinjo stressed that safety, regulatory compliance and ethical business practices remain non-negotiable in all engagements with suppliers.
She noted that stronger collaboration with vendors would help the company deliver greater value to customers and other stakeholders while supporting sustainable business growth.
The forum featured technical presentations by senior executives from the company’s Procurement, Engineering, Compliance, Finance, Legal, Health, Safety and Environment (HSE), and Sales and Marketing departments.
Participants received guidance on Pinnacle’s procurement procedures, vendor onboarding and prequalification processes, Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements, tax invoicing, payment processes, contractual obligations, technical specifications, contractor responsibilities, supplier performance expectations and Service Level Agreements.
The company also unveiled improvements to its Purchase Order (PO) process aimed at improving efficiency, transparency and ease of doing business with vendors.
A major highlight of the event was an interactive question-and-answer session where vendors engaged directly with the company’s leadership on procurement procedures, compliance requirements, project execution, HSE standards and areas for continuous improvement.
According to Pinnacle, the session reinforced its commitment to transparency, open communication and stronger collaboration with suppliers.
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The company also recognised outstanding vendors whose contributions have supported its operational performance over the past year. Five companies received Certificates of Recognition for exceptional service delivery, innovation and partnership.
The award recipients were Great Grace Enterprise for Outstanding Delivery Performance, Cevets Nigeria Limited for Excellence in Project Delivery, Ceezik Projekts for Outstanding Quality, Diadco Nigeria Limited for Outstanding Responsiveness, and Sephill Innovative Solutions Limited for Best Commercial Value.
On the significance of the forum, Head of Procurement and Administration, Oluseyi Ogunfowora, said the initiative reflects Pinnacle’s determination to build stronger partnerships through transparency, collaboration and shared accountability.
She explained that the procurement function coordinates the requirements of Engineering, Operations, Marine, Compliance, Legal, Finance, HSE and other business units to ensure a fair, efficient and transparent procurement process.
Ogunfowora urged vendors to submit complete and compliant documentation, communicate proactively and seek clarification whenever necessary.
“The success of our business depends on the strength of our partnerships,” she said. “When vendors clearly understand our expectations and we work together with transparency, compliance and open communication, we create a high-performing vendor ecosystem that benefits everyone.”
She added that the 2026 Vendors’ Forum forms part of Pinnacle’s broader strategy to strengthen supplier engagement, improve operational efficiency and reinforce a culture of compliance, safety, innovation and continuous improvement throughout its value chain.
Business
NCDMB, Zigma Equip 50 Certified Crane Operators with Global Standard Skills
Poised to help in addressing the shortage of skilled technical manpower locally, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has graduated 50 Nigerians as certified crane operators under a specialised training programme, which empowers them with global standards in the trade.
The four-week Crane Operations Operator Level I and II Training Programme, implemented in partnership with Zigma Limited, equipped participants with internationally recognised technical knowledge, practical operating skills and safety competencies required for crane operations across the oil and gas, construction and industrial sectors.
During the graduation ceremony, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Felix Ogbe, represented by Halvin Okonmah, explained that the initiative forms part of the Board’s commitment to developing Nigerian professionals capable of meeting the industry’s growing technical manpower needs.
He said the programme aligns with the Board’s statutory mandate under the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act (NOGICD) to build human capital, expand opportunities for Nigerians in specialised technical roles and deepen local participation in the energy sector.
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According to him, the training will strengthen industry capacity while fostering innovation, partnerships and sustainable growth.
“This event will foster stronger partnerships, inspire fresh ideas and deepen the development of skilled local capacity for the benefit of our industry and our nation,” he said.
He urged the graduates to uphold the Board’s core values of patriotism, professionalism, integrity, creativity, passion and teamwork.
The Managing Director of Zigma Limited, Funmi Ogbue, represented by the company’s Chief Operating Officer, Ojinika Mba-Kalu, described the graduation as a milestone in developing Nigeria’s technical workforce, stressing that the country’s industrial future depends on investments in skilled manpower.
She said participants received intensive classroom and practical training covering crane operating principles, lifting operations, equipment inspection, load handling techniques, signalling and communication, hazard identification, risk assessment, and Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) standards. “This is a testament to what can be achieved when institutions, industry and individuals unite around a common purpose of building the capacity of Nigerians to compete, excel and lead within our nation’s oil and gas industry,” she said.
Ogbue added that Zigma would continue collaborating with government agencies and industry stakeholders to deliver more capacity-building programmes capable of producing globally competitive Nigerian professionals.
Presenting the project report, Zigma’s Project Manager, Amy Nwadiaro, disclosed that the programme attracted significant interest nationwide, with 355 applications received. Following a rigorous selection process, 65 applicants were shortlisted for screening, while 50 participants were eventually admitted into the training.
She said all 50 trainees successfully completed the programme, representing a 100 per cent completion rate.
“The response to this initiative was overwhelming. We received 355 applications, shortlisted 65 candidates for screening and admitted 50 participants, all of whom successfully completed the programme,” she said.
On behalf of the graduating trainees, Evidence Ojie described the programme as practical proof that Nigerian Content development extends beyond policy declarations to tangible investment in local talent.
He said the training provided participants with critical competencies in boom set-up, working range calculations, load chart interpretation and safety margins required for offshore and industrial crane operations.
According to him, the knowledge acquired would enable the graduates to compete effectively for technical roles on rigs, offshore platforms and industrial facilities both within Nigeria and internationally.
Industry stakeholders at the event also underscored the importance of certified crane operators in improving workplace safety, reducing operational accidents and enhancing efficiency in high-risk sectors such as oil and gas, construction and heavy industry.
Business
Eterna Posts N5.88bn Profit for H1
Improved operating performances have seen Eterna Plc report higher revenue and profitability for the second quarter and half-year ended June 30, 2026.
The company’s unaudited consolidated financial results showed that revenue rose by 38 per cent to N217.31bn from N157.65bn in the corresponding period of 2025.
The results show that gross profit more than doubled to N15.99bn, while operating profit increased to N8.78bn from N2.34bn. Profit before tax rose by 389 per cent to N7.67bn from N1.57bn recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.
Profit after tax (PAT) increased to N5.88bn from N573.81m, while earnings per share (EPS) improved to N2.69 from N0.44.
The company also reported an improved financial position, with total assets standing at N82.75bn as of June 30, 2026.
Cash and bank balances increased to N20.36bn from N4.79bn as of December 31, 2025, while total liabilities declined to N51.22bn from N84.43bn. Total equity rose to N31.53bn from N7.77bn, reflecting stronger liquidity and capitalisation.
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On the results, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Jude Nwaulune, said, “These results demonstrate the strength of our business and the impact of disciplined execution across our operations. The significant improvement in profitability and financial position provides a solid foundation to advance our growth priorities.
“The successful Rights Issue has further strengthened our balance sheet, resulting in a healthy leverage position, stronger equity and improved net assets. We remain focused on expanding our retail, aviation, lubricants and gas businesses, improving operational efficiency and customer experience, and delivering sustainable value to shareholders and other stakeholders.”
The company said its full unaudited consolidated financial statements for the half-year ended June 30, 2026, are available on its website.





