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U.S. Stocks Edge Lower as Investors Pause

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NEW YORK – Stocks edged down slightly at mid-morning, as investors paused to assess the market’s string of recent gains and a batch of corporate deal news.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 27 points, or 0.2%, to 16920. The S&P 500 index was nearly flat at 1962. The Nasdaq Composite Index fell two points, or 0.1%, to 4366.

The modest move comes on the heels of a recent steady grind higher in stocks. The S&P 500 posted its third straight all-time high and its 22nd record of the year on Friday, closing up 6.2% on the year. The Dow closed up 2.2% for the year.The slow climb comes as trading volumes have tumbled and stocks have failed to make big moves. Monday was on track to be the 46th straight session in which the S&P 500 closed with a move of less than 1%—the longest such stretch since 1995.

The data calendar was light, except for a report showing that existing home sales increased 4.9% in May to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.89 million, according to the National Association of Realtors. Economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal had forecast a rate of 4.75 million for the month.

Sean McCarthy, regional chief investment officer at Wells Fargo Private Bank, said he has been encouraged by the recent string of upbeat economic data following a slowdown earlier in the year. He said he expects stocks broadly to post modest single-digit gains this year as long as the economy continues to improve and corporate earnings grow as expected.

“What the market has wanted to see is good economic data, and overall we’re getting that in the second quarter,” said Mr. McCarthy, whose firm manages $170 billion. He said his firm remains parked in shares of companies that benefit from an economic rebound, including industrial and technology companies, as well as shares of companies in developed markets overseas.The yield on the 10-year Treasury note eased slightly to 2.602% from 2.625% late Friday.

Gold futures were little changed at $1,315.70 an ounce, after surging 3.3% last week, the biggest weekly gain in four months. Crude oil futures fell 0.1% to $106.70 a barrel. The dollar edged higher against the euro but lost some ground against the yen.

MarketWatch’s Victor Reklaitis joins Simon Constable on the News Hub to discuss which stocks to watch today, including Oracle, Integrys Energy Group and General Electric. Photo: Getty
In corporate news, Micros Systems rose 3.4% after The Wall Street Journal reported that Oracle ORCL +0.67% is close to sealing a deal to buy the software company for about $5 billion. Oracle edged up 0.9%.

Integrys Energy TEG +12.45% Group surged 14.5% after the company agreed to be acquired by Wisconsin Energy WEC -2.96% for $5.71 billion in cash and stock. Wisconsin Energy shares eased 1%.

Lululemon Athletica LULU +3.38% rallied 2.2% after The Wall Street Journal reported the yoga gear maker’s founder, Dennis “Chip” Wilson, is working with bankers at Goldman Sachs to find a way to gain more influence over the company’s operations.

Central Garden & Pet climbed 8.6% after Harbinger Group HRG +1.08% said it has offered to buy the company for about $505 million, or $1.1 billion including debt. Harbinger also offered, as an alternative to buying the entire company, to buy just Central’s pet business for $750 million. Harbinger shares rose 1.7%.

In Europe, Markit’s preliminary June purchasing managers index for the euro zone, which measures activity across both the manufacturing and services sectors, fell to 52.8 from 53.5 in May, missing expectations of 53.3. Readings above 50 signal expansion. The main weak spot was France, where activity contracted for a second straight month, and at a quickening pace.

European markets declined following the disappointing euro-zone data. The Stoxx Europe 600 slipped 0.3%, after rising last week to post the 12th weekly gain in 14 weeks.

“Investors had been expecting a much stronger acceleration in economic activity” in recent months, said François Savary, who oversees around $10 billion of assets as chief investment officer at Swiss bank Reyl. “This puts a question mark against the expected improvement in corporate earnings for the second quarter.”

France’s CAC 40 index lost 0.2%, Germany’s DAX 30 gave up 0.3% and the U.K.’s FTSE 100 fell 0.3%.

Meanwhile, HSBC’s preliminary manufacturing purchasing managers index for China rose to a seven-month high of 50.8 in June from 49.4 in May. That marked the first time this year that activity expanded from the previous month.

Asian markets were mixed as investors assessed the upbeat data out of China. The Shanghai Composite Index slipped 0.1% on expectations that the data might urge policy makers to hold back on stimulus measures. Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average rose 0.1% to close at a near five-month high.

– WALLSTREET JOURNAL

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Dangote Plans 10,000MW Power Intervention, Raises Africa Investment Ambition to $70bn

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President/Chief Executive, Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has disclosed plans to increase the group’s investment programme in Africa from $50 billion to about $70 billion under its Vision 2030.

Biztellers reports that this strategy would witness a major intervention in electricity generation to support industrial growth, to the tune of 10,000-megawatt.

Addressing creative industry stakeholders from Northern Nigeria, including content creators, journalists, bloggers, entertainers and Kannywood stars, Dangote said expanding production, creating jobs and providing reliable electricity were essential to unlocking Nigeria’s economic potential.

He identified inadequate power supply as a major obstacle to the survival of small and medium-sized enterprises, warning that businesses dependent on petrol and diesel generators would struggle to remain profitable. Dangote said the group was considering a 10,000-megawatt power programme across Africa, potentially including Nigeria, alongside an expansion of the generating capacity dedicated to its own operations.

“We initially planned to invest $50 billion. We are now looking at increasing that to about $70 billion in Africa,” he said.

Explaining the ambition behind Vision 2030, Dangote said African businesses must take greater responsibility for investing in the continent and addressing the infrastructure constraints that discourage other investors.

READ ALSO: Chevron Nigeria Emerges Second-best Exhibitor at NAPE 2026

According to him, inconsistent government policies and unreliable electricity remain significant barriers to investment. He said the group had largely addressed the power challenge within its operations by generating its own electricity.

“Across the group, we currently have almost 1,500 megawatts. By the time we complete Vision 2030, that could rise to between 4,500 and 5,000 megawatts,” he said. “That is captive power—electricity for our own operations. Separately, part of the vision is to intervene in power generation with 10,000 megawatts across Africa, potentially including Nigeria.”

Responding to a question about the economic decision that would most improve the lives of ordinary Nigerians, Dangote placed electricity at the centre of the country’s development needs.

He argued that individual households and companies installing alternative power systems would not, by itself, resolve the wider economic problem.

“Installing solar power for yourself does not mean the wider problem has been solved. Other people may not have that option,” he said. “A vibrant economy is driven by small and medium-sized enterprises. Large companies such as ours help sustain those businesses, but SMEs are essential to economic activity. When you generate electricity using diesel or petrol, it becomes very difficult to make money.”

Dangote expressed confidence in Nigeria’s entrepreneurial strength, saying the country had yet to realise the full benefits of its large and dynamic economy. He said businesses had a responsibility to invest and create opportunities, while the government should concentrate on providing policies and conditions that allow enterprises to grow.
“The government’s principal responsibility is to create an enabling environment through good policies. With the right policies, businesses can invest and create jobs,” he said.

The industrialist identified agriculture and solid minerals as areas with substantial potential, particularly in Northern Nigeria, but stressed that the country must move beyond exporting unprocessed resources. He said investment in infrastructure, including ports, could open markets for other producers and make it easier for businesses to develop and export their products.

“It is not only about us; it is about Nigeria and the African continent,” he said. “We should not simply export raw materials and then buy back the processed products at many times the price. That is the pattern we want to change. Without production, we will continue to face economic difficulties. We must build a productive economy.”

Sharing lessons from his business career, Dangote attributed the group’s expansion to focus, financial discipline and the consistent reinvestment of earnings. He said the transition from trading to manufacturing was built around products the group already understood, supported by established customers, distribution networks and market knowledge.

“The logical next step was backward integration: producing the things we were already importing,” he said.

Dangote also urged entrepreneurs to avoid spending anticipated profits and to recognise when a venture was no longer commercially viable.
“Give it your best effort, but when you do the numbers and they are not adding up, you must be willing to leave,” he said.

Despite the challenges facing businesses, he maintained that the group would continue investing and encouraged smaller enterprises to build opportunities around major industrial projects.

“People like us will continue investing. People like you can build businesses around those investments—as suppliers, producers and service providers,” he said.

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Chevron Nigeria Emerges Second-best Exhibitor at NAPE 2026

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Chevron Nigeria won the second-best exhibitor award at the just-concluded 2026 Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) conference and exhibition at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Biztellers reports that Olajumoke Cecilia Ajayi, FNAPE, NAPE President (2025–2026) and Managing Director/CEO of Ingentia Energies Limited, presented the award to Chevron, during the awards dinner on November 12, 2026.

The award is in recognition of Chevron’s outstanding exhibition, where visitors to its booth, particularly students, took part in Geology/Geophysics presentations and quizzes, word games, and Human Resources/Nigerian Content presentations and quizzes, with gifts for winners and participants.

Commenting on the award, the leader of the Chevron’s exhibition team, Dr. Victor Anyaegbudike, Manager Communications, Chevron companies in Nigeria and the Mid Africa Region, commended NAPE for its commitment to hosting the annual conference and exhibition. He noted that Chevron has operated in Nigeria for over 60 years, contributing to the country’s growth and development and making human investments that yield long-term, transformative returns.

READ ALSO: Tinubu, Shettima Head to Jos for APC Presidential Campaign Rally

“At Chevron Nigeria, we drive innovation and investment to open up opportunities for growth, jobs, productivity and lasting value. Forums like the NAPE conference and exhibition matter because they bring government, academia, students and industry together around shared goals and a better understanding of one another,” he remarked.

Victor noted that Chevron is committed to building productive, collaborative and mutually beneficial relationships, grounded in trust, with governments, partners, customers, communities and employees. “We believe that affordable, reliable and ever-cleaner energy is vital to a more prosperous and sustainable world,” he said.

Attendees at the NAPE conference and exhibition included representatives of the Federal Government of Nigeria, industry regulators, industry leaders, academics, and students from tertiary institutions across the country.

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NGX Gains 1.36% as Market Capitalisation Climbs to ₦163.80trn

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NGX: Transactions maintain bearish trend with 0.0% loss

The Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) recorded a 1.36 per cent weekly gain as its market capitalisation increased to ₦163.80 trillion at the close of trading on Friday, November 13, 2026.

The NGX All-Share Index (ASI) rose to 252,269.16 points, pushing the market’s year-to-date return to 62.11 per cent.

The performance reflected a positive trading week for the equities market, with 43 listed companies recording price appreciation, compared with 29 in the previous week.

SEE MORE:NGX Market Cap Falls to ₦163.65trn As All-Share Index Drops

According to the Exchange’s weekly market report, investors traded 8.03 billion shares valued at ₦185.36 billion in 160,836 deals during the week.

This represented a significant increase in trading volume from the 2.83 billion shares exchanged in 192,158 deals in the preceding week, although the total value of transactions declined from ₦208.41 billion.

The Financial Services Industry dominated trading activities, accounting for 4.85 billion shares worth ₦95.79 billion. This represented 60.45 per cent of the total equity turnover volume and 51.68 per cent of turnover value.

The Agriculture Industry followed with 2.24 billion shares valued at ₦22.78 billion, while the Consumer Goods Industry recorded 260.99 million shares worth ₦11.89 billion.

Further details of the market performance showed that 39 equities declined during the week, compared with 57 in the previous week, while 64 equities closed unchanged against 60 recorded in the preceding period.

On the gainers’ chart, Champion Breweries Plc emerged as the best-performing stock, appreciating by 27.27 per cent, while LivingTrust Mortgage Bank Plc recorded the biggest loss, declining by 18.53 per cent.

Meanwhile, trading in Exchange-Traded Products (ETPs) stood at 1.21 million units valued at ₦278.97 million in 3,351 deals, compared with 1.46 million units worth ₦381.82 million in 4,085 deals in the previous week.

The fixed-income segment recorded 156,612 units valued at ₦177.88 million in 41 deals, against 21.99 million units worth ₦20.60 billion in 48 deals recorded in the preceding week.

The Exchange also recorded the listing of two commercial paper instruments issued by Thrive Agric Limited.

The instruments comprised ₦3.17 billion Series 1 (Tranche A) and ₦2.09 billion Series 1 (Tranche B) Commercial Papers, with a combined value of approximately ₦5.26 billion.

 

 

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