Business
Investors Gain N15.6 Trillion in H1’24 Amid Monetary Policy Tightening
Despite economic challenges, investors on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) gained over N15.6 trillion in the first half of 2024 (H1’24), largely due to the forex market reforms introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Market Performance Highlights:
- Market Capitalization: Rose to N56.601 trillion at the end of H1’24 from N40.917 trillion at the end of December 2023.
- NGX All Share Index (ASI): Increased to 100,057.49 points from 74,773.77 points over the same period.
- Year-to-Date (YtD) Return: Stands at an impressive 33.81%, despite recent bearish trends in Q2.
Quarterly Performance Breakdown:
- Q1 2024: The equities market saw a significant return of 39.84%, driven by:
- Strong company earnings.
- Positive dividend announcements.
- The listing of Transcorp Power Plc on the NGX, which added 7.5 billion shares at N240.00 per share to the market.
- Q2 2024: The market experienced a decline, with returns falling to -4.31% by the end of June 28th. This downturn was primarily due to:
- Increased monetary tightening by the CBN.
- Rising interest rates, which made fixed income investments more attractive than equities.
Analysts’ Insights:
Financial analysts emphasized the positive impact of CBN’s FX reforms, which have bolstered market confidence and attracted foreign investors.
InvestData Consulting Analysts:
“Fiscal and monetary policies are striving to return the nation’s economy to a recovery path, despite the continued mismatch of policies and implementation styles. Ahead of the half-year earnings season, more companies like UCAP, AccessCorp, MTNN, and UACN have informed the market of their closed period and board meetings to approve the Q2 earnings report. Investors should target companies with a consistent track record of dividend payments, strong fundamentals, and growth prospects that support further earnings growth.”
Olatunde Amolegbe, Former President, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS):
“The CBN’s reform of the FX market has increased confidence among foreign investors, boosting the market alongside support from local institutional investors.”
The insights from these analysts suggest that despite the economic headwinds and policy challenges, the NGX has managed to provide substantial returns to investors, underpinned by strategic reforms and positive investor sentiment.
Business
Logan Paul Faces Scrutiny Over Cryptocurrency Promotions and Investments
Logan Paul, a prominent social media influencer with over 23 million YouTube subscribers, is under fire for his involvement in cryptocurrency projects. Accusations have surfaced that Paul may have profited by allegedly misleading fans into investments that caused token prices to spike.
Paul’s influence in the crypto space has been growing over the past three years, as his videos increasingly reference blockchain technologies and investment opportunities. However, some critics argue his endorsements lack transparency, fueling speculation that he may have sold tokens at inflated prices after his promotions.
Adding to his challenges, Paul is embroiled in a multi-million-dollar lawsuit over CryptoZoo, a failed crypto project he backed. The venture was marketed as a play-to-earn game, but investors claim they lost significant sums when the project collapsed.
Paul has denied any wrongdoing in connection to both CryptoZoo and his other cryptocurrency activities. Despite the controversy, he remains a major figure in the influencer world, leveraging his platform to shape conversations and trends across various industries.
Business
Walmart Raises Full-Year Outlook as Holiday Shopping Boosts Sales
Walmart has once again raised its annual sales forecast, citing stronger-than-expected consumer spending on non-grocery items, increased home delivery orders, and early holiday shopping. The retail giant now anticipates net sales growth between 4.8% and 5.1% for the fiscal year, up from its previous projection of 3.75% to 4.75%.
The updated outlook was announced alongside third-quarter earnings that surpassed Wall Street expectations. Chief Financial Officer John David Rainey noted that general merchandise sales increased year-over-year for the second consecutive quarter, reversing a decline that spanned 11 quarters. However, he highlighted that customers remain price-sensitive, waiting for deals, particularly as food prices remain elevated.
“We’re expecting this holiday period to be very consistent with that,” Rainey said, emphasizing shoppers’ focus on price and value.
Walmart’s strong performance propelled its shares up by about 3% in early trading, reaching a 52-week high and setting a new all-time intraday record since the company began trading on the New York Stock Exchange in 1972.
For the quarter ending October 31, Walmart reported a sharp increase in net income, rising to $4.58 billion, or 57 cents per share, compared with $453 million, or 6 cents per share, a year earlier. Revenue climbed to $164.05 billion, up from $160.80 billion in the same period last year.
Comparable sales, a key industry metric, grew 5.3% for Walmart U.S. and 7% at Sam’s Club (excluding fuel). Walmart also reported higher customer engagement, with U.S. transactions rising 3.1% and average ticket size increasing 2.1% year-over-year.
Business
Spirit Airlines Files for Bankruptcy Amid Financial Struggles
US budget airline Spirit Airlines has filed for bankruptcy protection, citing prolonged financial losses and failed merger attempts. The Florida-based carrier announced on Monday that it has secured an agreement to restructure its debt and raise funds during a Chapter 11 bankruptcy process, expected to conclude by early 2025.
Spirit assured customers that its operations will continue as normal throughout the process, with no impact on passenger travel, employee wages, or payments to aircraft leasing firms.
This marks the first bankruptcy filing by a US airline in over a decade, with the last major case being American Airlines’ 2011 filing to address labor costs and high fuel prices. Spirit, however, has faced unique challenges, including intensified competition in the budget travel sector and engine-related mechanical issues that have grounded aircraft and increased operating expenses.
The airline has not posted a full-year profit since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and reported losses of approximately $360 million (£285 million) in the first half of 2024, despite strong demand for budget travel.
As part of its restructuring, Spirit will be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange in the near future, and its stock shares will be canceled without value.
The airline remains optimistic that the Chapter 11 process will help it emerge more financially stable, ensuring continued service to its customers and support for its employees.
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