Business
European Bonds Decline on Manufacturing Data as Kiwi Gain
LONDON – European government bonds fell after a report confirmed euro-area manufacturing expanded for a fifth month in November. The New Zealand and Australian dollars rallied as Asian economic reports beat estimates.
German 10-year bund yields climbed four basis points to 1.73 percent at 10:35 a.m. in London. Treasury 10-year note yields gained four basis points and the rate on similar-maturity gilts jumped seven basis points. The pound rose to its strongest level versus the dollar since August 2011, the kiwi jumped 0.8 percent and the Aussie added 0.3 percent.
The Stoxx Europe 600 Index fell 0.2 percent and Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (SPA) contracts were little changed. Gold dropped 0.8 percent while crude oil gained 0.4 percent.
Manufacturing in the euro area expanded, with Markit Economics’s factory index rising to 51.6 in November from 51.3 in October and an estimate for 51.5.
The gauge in Spain fell to 48.6, the lowest since May, and compared with a forecast 51.1. Manufacturing indexes in China beat estimates for November as gauges in South Korea, India and Taiwan climbed. The U.S. Institute for Supply Management’s index was 55.1 in November, falling from the highest level since April 2011, according to the median economist forecast in a Bloomberg survey.
“The European PMIs were stronger than expected, apart from Spain, and this is weighing on bunds,” said Mathias Van Der Jeugt, a fixed-income strategist at KBC Bank NV in Brussels. “In the short term, the data limits the chance that the ECB will ease further. We believe U.S. manufacturing ISM can also beat consensus today and add downward pressure onto bunds.”
Treasuries, Gilts
Treasury 10-year notes rose to 2.79 percent and the rate on similar-maturity gilts climbed to 2.84 percent. Sterling gained 0.3 percent to $1.641 after advancing to $1.6443, the highest since Aug. 29, 2011.
New Zealand’s dollar strengthened against all of its 16 major counterparts, rising the most against the euro. Australia’s dollar strengthened to 91.32 U.S. cents.
The yen weakened 0.3 percent to 102.77 per U.S. dollar and the euro slipped 0.2 percent to $1.3561. Sterling jumped as much as 0.5 percent to $1.6443 before paring its advance to $1.6421.
The Stoxx Europe 600 Index dropped after falling as much as 0.3 percent after the Spanish data. Three stocks declined for every one that rose. The index gained 0.9 percent in November for a third consecutive monthly gain. The gauge has climbed 16 percent this year.
ThyssenKrupp AG slumped 7.8 percent after Germany’s largest steelmaker said it will sell equity equivalent to as much as 10 percent of its market value. ThyssenKrupp agreed to sell its U.S. steel plant to ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corp. for $1.55 billion, the Essen-based company said in a Nov. 29 statement. ArcelorMittal gained 2.1 percent.
U.S. Futures
Futures (SPX) on the S&P 500 expiring this month declined less than 0.1 percent. The index advanced 27 percent this year and reached an all-time high on Nov. 27.
Spending on a Black Friday weekend fell for the first time since 2009. Purchases at stores and websites fell 2.9 percent to $57.4 billion during the four days beginning with the Nov. 28 Thanksgiving holiday, according to a survey commissioned by the National Retail Federation.
The MSCI Asia Pacific Index dropped 0.1 percent, Japan’s Topix rose less than 0.1 percent, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 slid 0.7 percent. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index added 0.7 percent and India’s Sensex gained 0.5 percent.
A Chinese index of small companies tumbled by a record after the government said it will resume initial public offerings. China’s securities regulator said 50 companies will be ready for IPOs by the end of January as authorities prepare to lift a more than one-year ban on new listings.
China Data
The Shanghai Composite Index dropped 0.6 percent, while the ChiNext Index sank 8.4 percent, paring this year’s gain to 76 percent. There are more than 760 companies in line for approval and it will take about a year to complete an audit of all the applications, the regulator said on Nov. 30.
“Investors are weighing the positive economic data that’s coming out from the different markets, trying to gauge if these are sufficient to extend the rally on equities,” Jonathan Ravelas, chief market strategist at BDO Unibank Inc., said in Manila. “The resumption of China IPOs will spur fund rotation to the newcomers on hopes these will provide better returns.”
China’s official manufacturing purchasing managers’ index came in at 51.4 for November, matching the 18-month high reached in October. The median projection in a Bloomberg News survey was for 51.1, with levels above 50 signaling expansion. A separate gauge from HSBC Holdings Plc and Markit Economics was 50.8, topping estimates. HSBC/Markit’s manufacturing index for South Korea rose to 50.4 from 50.2, while a measure for Taiwan output climbed to 53.4 from 53.
Emerging Markets
The MSCI Emerging Markets Index advanced 0.1 percent, headed for the highest level in almost two weeks. The Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite Index (SHCOMP) retreated 0.6 percent, snapping a three-day gain.
The Thai baht weakened to the lowest level since Sept. 9 versus the dollar as the central bank warned a political standoff was hurting Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy. Protesters seeking Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s ouster vowed to incite more unrest.
PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia led a 1.5 percent gain in the Jakarta Composite Index (JCI) and the rupiah jumped 1.6 percent after data showed a surprise trade surplus. Indian shares climbed to the highest level since Nov. 20 after data showed economic growth quickened last quarter from a four-year low.
The Indonesian rupiah headed for its biggest gain since May 2012. Exports exceeded imports by $42.4 million in October, compared with the median estimate for a $775 million deficit by economists surveyed by Bloomberg, official data showed today.
U.S. Debt
Global stocks beat all assets for a third month in November, the longest winning streak since 2009. The MSCI All-Country World Index of equities rose 1.5 percent including dividends as China pledged to expand economic freedoms, the European Central Bank cut interest rates and speculation increased the Federal Reserve will put off a paring of stimulus.
America’s banks have never been so wary of risking their cash deposits on U.S. government debt. Their $1.8 trillion of the bonds now equal less than 70 percent of their cash, the least since the Federal Reserve began compiling the data in 1973.
Gold, Crude
The cost of insuring corporate bonds against losses fell, with the Markit iTraxx Europe Index of credit-default swaps on 125 investment-grade companies decreasing 0.6 basis points to 78.8 basis points. The gauge fell to 77 basis points last week, the lowest since April 2010.
Gold for immediate delivery fell for the first time in three sessions in London trading, declining 1 percent to $1,237.50 an ounce. Copper declined 0.6 percent to $7,014.50 a metric ton on the London Metal Exchange, while aluminum traded 0.4 percent lower at $1,748.25 a ton, near a four-year low.
Crude oil was little changed at $93.73 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas fell for the first time in eight days in New York, declining 0.8 percent and snapping the longest rising streak since January 2011.
Soybeans advanced 0.6 percent to $13.445 a bushel in Chicago after earlier touching $13.46, the highest in more than two months, on surging demand for U.S. supplies.
– BLOOMBERG
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) claimed that it saved $3.4 billion through contract restructuring and optimisation between April 2025 and July 2026.
Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, made the assertion in Abuja at the opening of the 25th Nigeria Oil & Gas (NOG) Energy Week, while highlighting the impact of ongoing reforms aimed at improving operational efficiency, reducing costs, strengthening partnerships, and enhancing value delivery to the federation.
Ojulari also stated that the national oil company had maintained full compliance with its joint venture cash call obligations.
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According to the scorecard presented by the NNPC Ltd, the $3.4 billion cost savings were realised through contract restructuring and optimisation initiatives across the company’s operations.
The reforms also contributed to an increase in government revenue, with the NNPC Ltd reporting a government take of N19.5 trillion, representing a 21.8 per cent year-on-year increase.
Besides, a major highlight of the report was NNPC’s 100 percent compliance with its joint venture cash call obligations across all its joint ventures from Financial Year 2025 to June 2026.
However, the company’s partners recorded a blended compliance rate of just 61 percent.
Of the 27 joint venture partners, only six were fully current with their obligations, while 13 recorded partial compliance with an average payment rate of 72 percent, and eight remained in significant default, paying an average of only 14 percent, prompting Joint Operating Agreement remedies.
The NNPC Ltd said it remained committed to sustaining its cash call obligations to support Nigeria’s target of achieving two million barrels of oil production per day.
Operationally, the company reported a six percent increase in crude oil production year-on-year and an 8.1 percent rise in gas production over the same period, reflecting improvements in upstream operations.
Ojulari also highlighted several strategic partnerships concluded since the last Nigeria Oil and Gas Conference, including a long term gas supply agreement with Nigeria LNG, progress on deepwater investments valued at over $20 billion, refinery related partnerships, industrial gas projects, and new gas supply arrangements.
Looking ahead, the company identified seven priority projects expected to drive production and gas infrastructure growth through 2027.
These, it said, included the UTM Floating LNG project, the OB3 East West Connector, the AKK gas pipeline, refinery technical enhancement projects, the Zabazaba deepwater development, the Owowo field, and the BSWAP project.
The state oil major added that the combination of cost optimisation, stronger operational performance, improved infrastructure reliability, and strategic partnerships would reinforce Nigeria’s energy security, boost government revenues, and support sustainable growth in oil and gas production.
Ojulari said the national oil company achieved 98 percent recovery across five crude export terminals between April 2025 and May 2026, up from one per cent at Bonny in June 2022.
He put current output at 1.71mbpd, the highest in five years, with the NNPC Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL) hitting a record 365,000 bpd.
Gas production, he said, reached 7.5 billion standard cubic feet per day (bscf/d) following the River Niger crossing on the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Pipeline and inauguration of the ANOH Gas Plant.
Ojulari added that the NNPC Ltd had “zero tolerance for partners who are not able to fund their Cash-call” and had begun invoking default clauses.
He stressed collaboration over control, saying, “We have rid ourselves of any pseudo-regulation. We are not the super-regulator. Let them regulate. We want to work.”
Energia Limited and its Joint Venture partner, Oando Plc, have inaugurated the board of trustees of the Ndokwa West-1 Host Community Development Trust (HCDT).
The inauguration marked a significant milestone in strengthening sustainable development, transparency and community participation across their host communities in Delta State.
The inauguration, held in Asaba, also featured the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Energia-Oando Joint Venture and the seven host communities, in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021.
The event brought together representatives of Delta State Government, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), traditional rulers, community leaders, members of the newly inaugurated board of trustees, and other key stakeholders from the oil and gas industry.
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Representing the Governor of Deputy Governor, Delta State, Sir Monday Onyeme, Deputy Chief of Staff, Hon. Christopher Osaskwe commended Energia Limited and the host communities for successfully establishing the Trust and signing the Memorandum of Understanding.
He described the initiative as a demonstration of mutual commitment to partnership and sustainable development, while urging the newly inaugurated board to discharge its responsibilities with transparency, accountability and fairness.
He also encouraged host communities to continue protecting oil and gas infrastructure and embrace dialogue as the preferred approach to resolving disputes.
Managing Director, Energia Limited, Oladimeji Bashorun, described the inauguration as the beginning of a new chapter in the relationship between Energia and its host communities.
According to him, the company remains focused on building partnership, shared responsibility and sustainable development rather than dependency.
He noted that while the PIA provides a structured framework for host community development, Energia’s commitment to its host communities predates the legislation and has remained a core part of the Company’s operating philosophy since it achieved First Oil in 2009.
“Communities that host our operations should also share meaningfully in the opportunities created by those operations. Our success has always been closely connected to the success of our host communities,” Bashorun said.
He also disclosed that Energia has invested over N15.94 billion in community development initiatives since inception, supporting roads, drainage systems, healthcare facilities, educational programmes, scholarships, youth empowerment, solar-powered street lighting, community welfare initiatives and other social investments across its operational communities. He added that the Company dedicates 3% of its gross revenue annually to support sustainable development initiatives for its host communities.
Also speaking at the event, the Asset Manager of Oando, Seyi Fawora, reaffirmed the Joint Venture’s commitment to implementing the HCDT, noting that the partnership remains focused on building stronger, mutually beneficial relationships with host communities.
The representative of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Engr. Dennis Eyitemi, described the inauguration as a significant milestone in strengthening host community participation in development. He urged members of the Board of Trustees to remain accountable, transparent and committed to promoting the long-term welfare of the communities they represent.
Providing an overview of the HCDT framework, the Delta State Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Omamuzo Irebe, SAN, commended Energia for contributing beyond the statutory requirement prescribed under the Petroleum Industry Act and encouraged members of the Board to place community interests above personal interests while ensuring prudent management of the Trust’s resources.
The ceremony concluded with the swearing-in of the members of the Ndokwa West-1 Host Community Development Trust Board of Trustees. In his acceptance remarks, the Chairman of the Board, Chief Godwin Edeme, pledged the Board’s commitment to working with Energia Limited, Oando Petroleum Development Company and all stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation of the Trust for the benefit of present and future generations.
The establishment of the Ndokwa West-1 Host Community Development Trust represents another milestone in Energia’s long-standing commitment to responsible operations, stakeholder engagement and creating shared value for its host communities through sustainable, transparent and inclusive development. About Energia Limited
Energia Limited is a leading indigenous Nigerian exploration and production company with a proven track record of responsible hydrocarbon development and sustainable value creation. Since achieving First Oil in 2009, Energia has remained committed to operational excellence, environmental stewardship, and meaningful partnerships with its host communities, delivering lasting social and economic impact alongside its business growth.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) flow into Nigeria climbed to roughly $4 billion last year, according to UNCTAD’s World Investment Report 2026.
The report stated that “Inflows to Nigeria rose to about $4 billion, supported mainly by oil and gas–related IPF deals, including a major project valued at about $2 billion.”
The report indicated that Nigeria’s inflows were $1.6 billion in 2024, before increasing to roughly $4 billion (precisely $4.005 billion) in 2025 — reversing a downward trend that had seen inflows dip as low as $895 million in 2022. The figures place Nigeria among a cluster of West and East African economies that bucked a broader continental slowdown
According to the report, Nigeria’s outward investment also rose, from $408 million in 2024 to $1.19 billion in 2025, while its inward FDI stock reached nearly $93 billion by year-end.
“In Nigeria, deals included the sale of Shell’s onshore oil assets to the Nigerian consortium Renaissance Africa Energy and the acquisition of Lafarge Africa by Huaxin Cement of China, signaling both a wave of asset localization in the oil sector and continued Asian appetite for Nigerian industrial assets.
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On the Greenfield side, conglomerate Dangote Group emerged as an outward investor in its own right, backing a $3 billion chemicals project in neighboring Ethiopia — one of the 10 largest Greenfield projects announced across the continent in 2025.
Policy shifts also featured prominently in the report’s account of the investment climate. It noted that the government introduced sweeping fiscal reforms during the year, including a new minimum tax regime aligned with international standards.
“Nigeria, for instance, introduced a minimum effective tax rate of 15 per cent for multinational enterprises with revenues exceeding €750 million,” the report noted.
Alongside this, the report observed that Nigeria, together with Cameroon, moved to tighten incentive structures more broadly, as the two countries “replaced broad tax exemptions with tiered tax credits and strict eligibility requirements, such as job creation, local value addition and priority sectors.” Separately, the government rolled out targeted relief for the petroleum sector, introducing “performance-based tax credits for companies in the upstream petroleum industry, linking fiscal benefits to cost efficiency.”
The report also credited Nigeria with using regulatory innovation to court investors beyond the extractive sector.
It pointed to the Federal Government ‘s technology-focused reforms, noting that Nigeria “has used regulatory frameworks to reduce uncertainty for innovative firms,” citing the Startup Act and accompanying central bank rules that let sandboxes allow start-ups to test products with real users before facing the full weight of regulation.
On trade infrastructure, the report named Nigeria as one of five countries — alongside Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Ghana and Togo — that committed under a regional agreement to harmonising customs and border procedures along the Abidjan–Lagos corridor, part of a wider West African push to cut transit times and integrate cross-border trade.
Africa as a whole, according to the report, saw FDI inflows fall sharply from an exceptional 2024, but the report noted that in West Africa, investment “rose in several West African economies, supported mainly by investment in natural resources and energy.”
Courtesy – The Punch
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