Connect with us

Business

U.S. Stocks inch higher

Published

on

NEW YORK – Today, U.S. Stocks inched higher  as investors digested a few soft readings on U.S. economic growth.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 13 points, or 0.1%, to 16546. The S&P 500 added three points, or 0.2%, to 1891. The Nasdaq Composite Index edged up 12 points, or 0.3%, to 4143.

Trading volumes have been light in recent days, with Wall Street desks citing caution on the part of investors about making big bets in either direction. Investors continued to hold tight Thursday after a trio of slightly weaker-than-expected readings on the economy.

“Once again, we entered the year thinking there’d be a growth acceleration, and…people are realizing the economy is not ready to break out,” said Dan Greenhaus, chief market strategist at New York brokerage firm BTIG.Existing-home sales for April rose 1.3% on the month to a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 4.65 million, below expectations for a 2% rise to 4.68 million. The Conference Board’s leading economic index rose 0.4%, missing forecasts for a 0.5% rise. Initial claims for jobless benefits in the latest week rose 28,000 to 326,000, versus expectations of a rise to 310,000, after falling to a seven-year low the week before.

Slight moves in early Thursday trading contrasted with big swings in the last two sessions. On Wednesday, the Dow rallied 159 points, or 1%, to post the biggest one-day point and percentage gain since April 16. That followed a 0.8% selloff on Tuesday to the lowest close since April 25.

The Russell 2000 index of small-capitalization stocks, which has underperformed the broader market by a wide margin in the last couple of months, added 0.5% on Thursday.

Some investors voiced concern about committing new money to stocks with major benchmarks trading just below all-time highs. Others are wary after being burned by sharp declines in Internet shares, biotechnology stocks, and shares of small companies, which have sold off sharply in recent months. Mostly, investors are standing pat, traders said.“A lot of people did take risk off the table, but the S&P 500 has held up because people don’t have any other place to go except U.S. equities,” said Yousef Abbasi, a market strategist at brokerage JonesTrading Institutional Services.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note edged higher to 2.544% from 2.536% late Wednesday. Crude-oil futures added less than 0.1% to $104.09 a barrel, after settling Wednesday at a one-month high. Gold futures gained 0.9% to $1,299.30 a troy ounce. The dollar gained against the euro and the yen.

European markets gained after data showed business activity in the euro zone continued to grow, but at a slower pace. The Stoxx Europe 600 ticked up 0.1%. Markit’s composite purchasing managers index for the euro zone slipped to 53.9 in May from 54.0 in April, matching expectations. Readings above 50 signal expansion. Germany’s composite PMI was unchanged at 56.1, while France’s composite PMI declined to 49.3 from 50.6.In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average shot up 2.1%, boosted by data showing May manufacturing activity contracted at a slower pace than in April and a weaker yen. China’s Shanghai Composite slipped 0.2%, although HSBC’s preliminary manufacturing PMI for May rose to a five-month high of 49.7, but still signaled contraction.

In corporate news, Best Buy rallied 4.4% after the consumer electronics retailer topped fiscal-first-quarter earnings estimates, but fell short on revenue and said it expected declines in same-store sales for the current and third quarters.

Williams-Sonoma rallied 7.3% after the housewares and furniture company reported late Wednesday fiscal-first-quarter earnings and revenue that exceeded expectations and raised its full-year outlook, citing strong sales growth in its West Elm and Pottery Barn businesses.

Hess rose 1.7% after the exploration-and-production company announced an agreement to sell its retail business to Marathon Petroleum’s Speedway unit for $2.6 billion in cash. Hess also said it increased its share buyback program by $2.5 billion to $6.5 billion. Marathon shares gained 0.9%.

– WALLSTREET JOURNAL

Click to comment
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Business

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

Published

on

The Nigerian equities market closed Friday’s trading session on a negative note, with the All-Share Index declining by 0.38 per cent to close at 252,113.41 points.

According to the Nigerian Exchange Group’s Daily Market Snapshot for Friday, September 25, 2026, equity market capitalisation stood at ₦163.65 trillion, representing a 0.01 per cent decline.

ALSO READ: NGX Invest Expands Primary Market Access with WhatsApp Subscription Channel

The fixed-income market capitalisation also fell by 0.01 per cent to ₦58.74 trillion, while the market capitalisation of Exchange-Traded Products (ETPs) declined by 2.15 per cent to ₦57.77 billion.

Meanwhile, the top five gainers were led by a stock that rose 10 per cent to close at ₦17.60, followed by CMFC, which gained 9.76 per cent to ₦3.26. Briscoe rose 9.74 per cent to ₦10.70, ABC Transport gained 9.68 per cent to ₦5.10, while Royal Exchange increased by 9.09 per cent to ₦1.08.

The figures were contained in the NGX Daily Market Snapshot released at the close of trading on Friday.

Continue Reading

Business

NCDMB Woos Chinese Manufacturers

Published

on

NCDMB Emerges Best MDA In Ease Of Doing Business Ranking

More than 100 Chinese original equipment manufacturers are being wooed for investment, technology and manufacturing capacity to aid growth in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) made the disclosure through its Director, Project Certification and Authorisation Division and Senior Technical Adviser to the Executive Secretary, Austin Uzoka.

This was detailed in a statement issued by the Board which stated that Uzoka was representing the Executive Secretary, Felix Ogbe, at the 15th China Shale Oil and Gas Summit in Chengdu, China, where he made the disclosure.

READ ALSO: NIPCO Moots $3bn Gas Project with Local Construction

According to Ogbe, the board was seeking to move the relationship between Nigerian oil and gas operators and Chinese manufacturers beyond the conventional buyer-seller model to investment, manufacturing, technology transfer and integration into global supply chains.

He said the Nigerian Oil and Gas Content Development Act (NOGCDA) guaranteed patronage for oil and gas equipment manufacturing facilities established in Nigeria, adding that such investments could also provide access to opportunities across the Gulf of Guinea.

“We are looking beyond the traditional buyer-seller relationship. What can we build together? We want Chinese companies to see Nigeria not simply as a market for their products, but as a strategic investment destination, a platform for manufacturing and technology development, and a gateway to opportunities across the wider African market,” he said.

He highlighted the Nigerian Oil and Gas Park Scheme (NOGPS) as a platform for Chinese original equipment manufacturers to establish manufacturing, assembly and service operations in Nigeria.

He said the scheme would provide opportunities for technology transfer, technical arrangements and the integration of Nigerian businesses into the supply chains of Chinese companies.

The ES also identified China’s capabilities in manufacturing, engineering, technology and energy infrastructure as areas that could support Nigeria’s industrial development.

“China has developed tremendous capabilities in manufacturing, engineering, technology and energy infrastructure. We want to explore how those capabilities can be connected with the opportunities that exist in Nigeria, for mutual benefits,” he added.

Nigeria’s local content policy had evolved from increasing Nigerian participation in oil and gas projects to a broader industrial development agenda focused on manufacturing, technology ownership and global competitiveness, he pointed out.

“Nigeria’s local content journey has evolved significantly since the local content law was enacted in 2010. What began primarily as an effort to increase Nigerian participation in the oil and gas industry has developed into a broader industrial development agenda focused on building capabilities, deepening manufacturing, promoting technology ownership and positioning Nigerian businesses to compete within regional and global markets,” he observed.

The engagement formed part of Nigeria’s participation in the 15th China Shale Oil and Gas Summit, held from September 20 to 23 at the Chengdu Century City International Conference Centre.

The summit, themed ‘Empowering Efficient and Green Development via Intelligent Technologies, Innovating to Lead the Shale Oil and Gas Revolution’, provided a platform for Nigerian oil and gas stakeholders to showcase investment opportunities in manufacturing, technology and oil and gas services.

According to the NCDMB, several Chinese OEMs expressed interest in exploring business relationships with Nigerian companies and participating in the country’s growing oil and gas manufacturing ecosystem.

In her closing remarks, the General Manager, Midstream, PCAD, Ms Lekoma Phimia, urged stakeholders to build on the connections established at the session to develop commercially viable and sustainable business relationships.

The NCDMB also used the exhibition to provide prospective investors and industry players with information on Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, local content opportunities and avenues for establishing operations in the country.

The board said the Chengdu engagement was part of efforts to expand Nigeria’s international industrial connections and advance the objectives of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act (NOGICDA).

It added that its focus was to move the local content agenda from participation to capability, manufacturing, and ultimately technology ownership and regional competitiveness.

Continue Reading

Business

NIPCO Moots $3bn Gas Project with Local Construction

Published

on

NIPCO Group has announced plans to develop a Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) project in Nigeria, with the proposed development estimated to require more than $3bn in investment.

This statement was made at a press conference on Thursday by the Managing Director of NIPCO Group, Nagendra Verma, who said the proposed project would have an envisaged LNG production capacity of approximately three million tonnes per annum, subject to the outcome of feasibility studies, regulatory approvals and a final investment decision.

READ ALSO: Dangote to Support Two Million Women with Refinery IPO Share Ownership

Verma said the project, which would mark NIPCO’s entry into the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) sector, was being considered for locations in the Escravos area of Delta State and the Akwa Ibom region.

“This proposed development is envisaged to comprise an FLNG facility along with associated marine and export infrastructure with the potential to serve both the international LNG market and growing domestic LNG demand in Nigeria. The proposed project is presently envisaged to produce LNG unified LNG of approximately 3 million L per annum, 3 million metric tons per annum. The proposed development is expected to represent a significant investment currently estimated in excess of $3bn.

“The final location shall be determined subsequent to the ongoing feasibility study. We are looking at strategic locations that will facilitate access to upstream gas resources, LNG processing, marine transportation and both international and domestic markets,” he said.

According to him, NIPCO had been evaluating the proposed FLNG project for the past six to nine months and was currently undertaking preliminary technical, commercial and feasibility assessments.

“We are considering various development concepts, technology solutions, financing structures and commercial options with a view to establishing a technically robust and commercially sustainable project,” Verma said.

He said the proposed development would comprise an FLNG facility alongside associated marine and export infrastructure, with the potential to serve international LNG markets as well as Nigeria’s growing domestic gas demand.

“The project is presently envisaged to have an LNG production capacity of approximately three million tonnes per annum.

“However, this remains subject to the outcome of the ongoing feasibility and technical studies, project economics, regulatory approvals and final investment decisions,” he said.

Verma said NIPCO was also evaluating the shipping and logistics infrastructure required to support both export and domestic LNG supply.

The Managing Director said the ongoing assessment covers upstream gas supply and reserves, FLNG technology and configuration, LNG production capacity, marine and export infrastructure, domestic LNG supply opportunities, shipping and logistics requirements, project economics and financing structure.

Continue Reading

Copyright © 2022. Biztellers, powered by Alphaxristi.

0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x