capital market

Crowdfunding to accelerate financial inclusion — SEC

Published

2 years ago

September 13, 2022

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) says operationalising crowdfunding will accelerate financial inclusion agenda of the country and boost Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

This is contained in a statement by the SEC Executive Commissioner, Operations, Mr Dayo Obisan, on Sunday in Abuja.

Obisan said that crowdfunding could also increase the quantum of investible funds by unlocking the untapped capital in the economy.

According to him, crowdfunding platforms are websites that enable interaction between fundraisers and the crowd.

He said that crowdfunding had garnered a lot of attention from regulators across jurisdictions because of its potentials to further financial inclusion efforts.

He said that the Commission’s rules governing crowdfunding became effective on January 2021, with the main objective of “investor safety.”

The Executive Commissioner described crowdfunding as a new phenomenon growing popularity in the country.

He noted that the platform was an innovative source of finance that provided MSMEs with start-ups.

“This is to raise awareness for Nigerians on crowdfunding as a funding mechanism for start-ups and MSMES, to enlighten them on experiences and lessons on crowdfunding from other jurisdictions.

“This is to also let the people know that it is an alternative way of investment and financing of businesses.

“It is strongly believed that the capital market has a leading role to play in this regard by collaborating with relevant stakeholders to map out strategies for deepening the market through financial inclusion,” he said.

Mrs Elizabeth Howard, the President, African Crowd Funding Association, said that crowdfunding was the use of small amounts of money, obtained from a large number of individuals or organisations to fund a project.

Howard said the small amount obtained from a large number of individuals could also be used to fund a business or personal loan and other needs through online web based platforms.

capital market

NGX: Sell-offs in banking stocks drop value of transactions down 2.60%

Published

43 mins ago

April 20, 2024

NewsDirect

Bearish sentiment persisted on banking stocks at the equity market on Friday, making the value of transactions traded on the floor of the Nigerian Exchange Ltd.(NGX) down by 2.60 per cent.

Analysis of the market activities indicated trade turnover settled lower relative to the previous session.

Specifically, investors transacted a total of 257.86 million shares valued at N5.40 billion exchanged in 7,168 deals, as against 285.91 million shares worth N5.54 billion exchange in 7,726 deals posted on Thursday.

Consequently, the market capitalisation, which opened at N56.469 trillion, shed N173 billion or 0.31 per cent to close at N56.296 trillion.

The All-Share Index also dropped 0.31 per cent or 306 points to settle at 99,539.75, compared to 99,845.91 recorded in the previous session.

As a result, the Year-To-Date (YTD) return dipped to 33.12 per cent.

Sell-offs in Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO), FBN Holdings, Zenith Bank, Access Corporation, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Jaiz Bank, as well as United Capital and Unilever Nigeria, among other top decliners, drove the market to a negative terrain.

Meanwhile, market breadth closed negative with 20 losers and 14 gainers.

On the losers’ chart, United Bank led by 10 per cent to close at N1.62, FBN Holdings followed by 9.83 per cent to close at N24.30, Tantalizers declined by 8.57 per cent to close at 32k per share.

Deap Capital Management shed 7.35 per cent to close at 63k and Caverton went down by 6.83 per cent to close at 1.50 per share.

On the gainers’ chart, FTN Cocoa Processors led by 9.60 per cent to close at N1.37, RT Briscoe trailed by 9.26 per cent to close at 59k, Livestock Feed gained N1.45 per share.

Royal Exchange Assurance added 8.06 per cent to close at 67k, while Consolidated Hallmark Plc rose by 7.44 per cent to close at N1.30 per share.

On the activity chart, UBA led in volume with 38.72 million shares traded in value of N888.55 million, while GTCO led in value with 38.30 million shares worth N1.31 biliion.

Access Corporation also sold 34.34 million shares worth N584.54 million, Zenith Bank traded 24.41 million shares worth N875.85 million and The Initiative Plc transacted 17.52 million shares worth N34.13 million.

capital market

Financial expert seeks alignment of FG’s fiscal policy with CBN’s monetary policy

Published

2 days ago

April 18, 2024

NewsDirect

A financial expert, Mr Eddie Osarenkhoe, has advised the Federal Government to align its fiscal policy with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s monetary policy to achieve economic stability.

Osarenkhoe, the immediate past President of Finance Houses Association of Nigeria (FHAN), gave the advice while speaking with newsmen on Wednesday in Ota, Ogun.

He attributed the current steady appreciation of the naira to CBN’s reforms and the country’s ability to pay some of its debts.

Osarenkhoe applauded the CBN reforms which, he said, had helped to sustain the steady appreciation of the naira against the dollar.

The financial expert stated that CBN was able to check speculators in the foreign exchange, thus resulting in continuous appreciation of the nation’s currency.

“If the federal government is able to come up with fiscal policy in alignment with that of CBN, it will help the nation’s economy a great deal,” he said.

According to him, the economy needs to improve through exports to enable the country to earn more foreign exchange.

The naira has shown a remarkable strength against the US dollar, trading below N1,000 at the official market.

This development has been attributed to the strategic financial policies being implemented by the President Bola Tinubu-led administration and CBN.

capital market

Investors lose N457bn as bearish sentiment continues

Published

2 days ago

April 18, 2024

NewsDirect

Investors in the Nigerian equities market lost N457 billion at the end of trading on Wednesday.

This followed the dip in the share value of Livestock Feeds, Computer Warehouse Group, International Energy Insurance, and FTN Cocoa Processors on the trading floor today.

After five hours of trading at the capital market, the equity capitalisation crashed to N56.5 trillion from N56.9 trillion posted by the bourse on Tuesday.

Similarly, the All-Share Index (ASI) fell below the 100,000-mark to 99,908.89 from 100,717.21 achieved by the bourse the previous day.

The market breadth was negative as 17 stocks advanced, 26 declined, while 78 others remained unchanged in 9, 074 deals.

Ikeja Hotel topped the gainers’ list with +10.00 percent to close at N7.26 from its previous N6.60 per share.

Fidelity Bank, Academy, Morison, and Prestige also increased their share prices by 9.88 percent, 9.77 percent, 9.71 percent, and 9.26 percent respectively.

On the flip side, Livestock Feeds, Computer Warehouse Group, International Energy Insurance, and FTN Cocoa Processors led other price decliners as they shed 10.00 percent, 9.79 percent, 9.79 percent and 9.72 percent each off their share prices.

UBA recorded the highest volume by trading 55.013 million shares valued at N1.28 billion in 1,092 deals followed by Zenith Bank with 47.029 million shares worth N1.69 billion traded by investors in 907 deals.

Access Corp traded 44.986 million shares valued at N789 million in 845 deals.

On the value index, Zenith Bank recorded the highest value for the day trading stocks worth N1.69 billion in 907 deals followed by UBA which traded equities worth N1.284bn in 1,092 deals.

Access Corp traded stocks worth N789 million in 845 deals.