Connect with us

General News

All Share Index, Naira and Oil in Focus  

Published

on

Kindly share this post

By Lukman Otunuga, Senior Research Analyst at FXTM,

It has been a quiet start to the trading week for Nigerian markets, with the All-Share Index (ASI) barely moving from where it closed last Friday!

Over the past few days, local stocks have found support from encouraging financial results released by companies for the second quarter of 2020. Although the coronavirus pandemic remains a significant risk to Nigeria’s economy, sentiment has certainly been lifted by a handful of companies displaying resilience against the health crises.

Looking at the technical picture, the ASI is bullish on the daily timeframe as there have been consistently higher highs and higher lows. The daily close above 25000 could inspire a move towards 25200.

 
 
image.png
 

More Naira weakness on the cards?

The story defining the Naira’s weakness continues to revolve around Dollar shortages, shaky Oil prices and gloomy economic fundamentals. Nigeria continues to nurse wounds inflicted from lockdown measures while shaky Oil prices have complicated the Central Bank of Nigeria’s efforts to defend the Naira against external and domestic risks.

On the official exchange, the Naira is trading around N386 per dollar while the black market N475.

A quiet week for Oil?

This could be another quiet week for Oil markets are the commodity struggles to break free from the $40-$43 regions (WTI Crude).

Oil prices have jumped to their highest levels last week thanks to a massive drop in U.S crude inventories and a broadly weaker Dollar. Buying sentiment towards Oil was also stimulated by geopolitical risk after an explosion at Beirut’s port triggered fears over instability in the region. However, Oil remains capped by fears over a new wave of coronavirus infections hitting fuel demand.

Commodity spotlight – Gold

Everybody has been talking about Gold over the past two weeks after the precious metal made history by hitting all-time highs.

After surging towards $2074 last Friday, prices tumbled almost $60 as investors engaged in a bout of profit-taking. Fundamentally, the precious metal remains bullish thanks to a weaker Dollar, negative U.S. yields, pre-election jitters and rising coronavirus cases in the United States. However, Gold may experience a pullback towards $2000 before prices rebound higher.

Looking at the technical picture, sustained weakness below $2040 could open the doors back towards $2000. A breakout above $2040 should inspire bulls to challenge $2074 and possibly $2100.

image.png

Kindly share this post

Ugo Onwuaso is an ICT enthusiast. He believes technology should be used for general good. He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the Lagos state University. Dear Reader, Your support matters. But we believe that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. That is why, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and finance and how they affect lives. Our incisive and analytical view of how technology news affects the daily life help individuals and organizations make up their minds. Quality journalism costs money. Today, we're asking that you support us to do more. Kindly support our effort to deliver technology and finance journalism to everyone in the world. Donate as little as N1,000. Bank transfers can be made to: UBA Plc 1017156876 Communication Week Media Ltd

General News

FG Collaborates with China to Digitalize Customs

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Federal Government is increasing collaborations with China to digitalise Nigeria Customs Service operations. This past weekend, NCS strengthened its cooperation efforts through a high-level engagement with the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC).

The meeting, held in Beijing, China, brought together senior officers of the customs service and top officials from the GACC to explore bilateral knowledge exchange and capacity development in customs administration.

Abdullahi Maiwada, NCS Assistant Comptroller of Customs said that discussions were held with officials from the GACC International Cooperation Division, the Training and Education Centre and representatives of the Shanghai Customs College.

“The engagement focused on deepening cooperation in customs training methodologies, modernisation models and technology-driven solutions, especially as China plays a pivotal role in Nigeria’s international trade network,” said Maiwada.

He added that during the meeting, the Chinese customs authorities shared their structured training system, which incorporates virtual reality, 5G-enabled systems, and blended e-learning approaches. In 2024, GACC conducted over 8 000 physical training sessions and developed 360 online courses.

Discussions also highlighted Nigeria’s active participation in China-led customs development initiatives, with over 200 African customs officers, including 89 from Nigeria, having received training since 2023 across various areas, such as trade facilitation, anti-smuggling enforcement, food safety supervision and digital port operations.

The bilateral dialogue between the two customs agencies also heralded new areas of collaboration, including Nigeria’s participation in upcoming Customs Modernisation Courses and officer development training at the Shanghai Customs College.

 


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

General News

Tesla Taps Samsung for Next-Gen AI Chip Production in $16.5Bn Deal

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Tesla CEO, Elon Musk has announced a $16.5 billion chip supply agreement with Samsung Electronics, a move expected to revive the South Korean company’s struggling foundry business.


The deal will see Samsung’s new chip factory in Taylor, Texas, manufacture Tesla’s next-generation AI6 chip.

Musk revealed that Tesla will help optimise production at the plant, located near his home, adding, “I will walk the line personally to accelerate the pace of progress.”

“The $16.5B figure is just the minimum — actual output will likely be several times higher,” Musk said in a post on X.

Samsung’s shares surged 6.8% to their highest level since September 2024 following the announcement, while Tesla stock gained 1.9% in premarket trading.

According to analysts, the Taylor facility previously struggled to attract major clients. The Tesla order marks a significant breakthrough, especially after reports in October 2024 revealed Samsung had delayed equipment deliveries due to a lack of customers.

Samsung currently produces Tesla’s AI4 chips for its Full Self-Driving system. While TSMC is set to make the AI5 chips, Samsung has now secured the more advanced AI6.

Though no specific timeline was shared, AI6 production is expected to begin in 2027 or 2028. Musk previously stated AI5 chips would be ready by late 2026.

Samsung, the world’s largest memory chipmaker, is working to expand its contract manufacturing business, which currently holds just 8% of the global market — far behind TSMC’s 67%.

The chip deal, running through 2033, had been initially announced without naming Tesla as the client. However, multiple sources confirmed the U.S. automaker as the buyer.

The partnership comes as Samsung faces intense pressure to compete in the booming AI chip sector. Earlier this month, the company projected a 56% drop in Q2 operating profit, with foundry losses exceeding $3.6 billion in the first half of the year.

Industry analysts say this deal could help reverse Samsung’s fortunes, offering a much-needed win in its race to stay competitive in a capital-intensive and technologically demanding field.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

General News

New Tax Law Empowers NRS to Fine Offenders up to N10m

Published

on

Kindly share this post

The newly enacted Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025, has empowered the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), renamed Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), to impose fines for individuals and companies for failing to register, file returns, use tax technology, or disclose basic information like a change of business address.

New Tax Law Empowers NRS to Fine Offenders up to N10m

The Act is among the tax laws signed by President Bola Tinubu on June 26.

The tax administration law is expected to take effect from January 1, 2026, under a renamed agency — the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), currently known as the FIRS.

The Act, which is an updated version of previous fragmented tax enforcement provisions, outlines a comprehensive list of offences and corresponding penalties, with fines ranging from N10,000 to N10 million, as well as prison terms of up to 10 years for serious breaches.

Under the general offences and penalties section of the law, a taxable person who fails to register with the relevant tax authority is liable to a N50,000 fine in the first month and N25,000 for each subsequent month of default.

The Act stressed that companies that award contracts to unregistered vendors will face a N5 million penalty.

The law also imposes a N100,000 fine for failure to file tax returns, plus N50,000 monthly for as long as the failure continues.

“A taxable person who fails or refuses to file returns or knowingly files incomplete or inaccurate returns to the relevant tax authority in accordance with the provisions of this Act, shall be liable to pay an administrative penalty of (a) 100,000 in the first month in which the failure occurs; and (b) N50,000 for each subsequent month in which the failure continues,” the Act reads.

“A taxable person who Failure to books (a) fails to keep accounts, books and records of business transactions and income, to allow for the correct ascertainment of tax and filing of returns to the relevant tax authority; or (b) upon request by the relevant tax authority, fails to provide any record or book prescribed in this Act shall be liable to pay an administrative penalty of- (i) in the case of a person other than a company, N10,000, and (ii) in the case of a company, N50,000.”

Also, the law states that failure to notify the tax authority of a change of address within 30 days of such change, giving a wrong address, or failing to comply with the requirement for notification of permanent cessation of trade or business under the relevant tax laws shall be liable to an administrative penalty.

“A taxable person who fails to notify the relevant tax authority – Failure to notify change of address (a) N100,000 for the first month in which the failure occurs; and (b) 45,000 for each subsequent month failure persists,” the law reads.

In a bid to modernise tax compliance, the Act makes it compulsory for businesses to allow the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to deploy fiscalisation technology or face a N1 million fine for the first day of refusal and N10,000 for each day after.

Any business that fails to process sales through the fiscalisation system will also be fined N200,000, pay 100 percent of the tax due, and accrue interest at the prevailing Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) monetary policy rate.

The Act is especially punitive toward those who fail to deduct or remit taxes.

“A person that deducts, collects, or withholds any tax under this Act, and fails to remit the amount deducted, collected, or withheld by the 21st day of the month immediately succeeding the month in which the amount was deducted, collected, or withheld, is liable to pay,” it added.

“Failure to remit tax deducted source or self-account (a) the amount deducted, collected or withheld but not remitted; (b) an administrative penalty of 10% per annum of the tax deducted, collected or withheld but not remitted; and (c) interest at the prevailing Central Bank of Nigeria monetary policy rate. “A person convicted of any of the offences under this section shall be liable to a term of imprisonment not exceeding three years, or a fine of not less than the principal amount due plus a penalty of not more than 50% of the sum, or both.

“A person who (a) fails to comply with the requirements of a notice served under this Act or any other tax law; (b) fails to attend or provide answers to a notice, summons or process served under this Act or any other tax law; or (c) having attended, fails to answer any question lawfully put to him, is liable to an administrative penalty of N100,000 in the first day of default and N10,000 for every subsequent day where the default.”


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Trending