E-Financial
FXTM January Currency Roundup
Concerns over the resumption of selling in the commodity markets, China’s slowdown and the market’s adjustment to higher US interest rates led to volatility and losses in the international stock markets throughout January.
Downward pressure also remained on the EURUSD with the most popular currency pair falling as low as 1.0718 in the first week of January, before regaining ground by the end of the month and rising to 1.0989.
Commodities told a mixed story, with Oil dipping below $30 per barrel and Gold rising past 1120 USD per ounce.
The bearish trend in Oil continues to be dominated by an ongoing oversupply in the market, while there are also concerns over slowing demand for the commodity due to weak global growth.
The increase in the price of Gold signals that investors might be hedging towards safe-haven assets as investors continue to be alarmed by concerns over international market volatility and an acceptance that commodity prices are set to remain depressed for an extended period, which will also drive GDP prospects lower.
Emerging currencies were buffeted by these headwinds with the Malaysian Ringgit, Indian Rupee, Indonesian Rupiah and Nigerian Naira all returning close to milestone lows against the Dollar.
Losses in the emerging market currencies were also accelerated by fears over the weakening of the Chinese currency, with the USDCNY jumping from as low as 6.4805 to as high as 6.6048.
The emerging market currencies remain at heavy risk due to concerns over China’s economy, and their currencies did face punishment as the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) continued to set the reference rate for the USDCNY higher at the beginning of the year.
This is clearly being seen by many as an effort to reinvigorate economic momentum in China by making their exports more competitive, while also encouraging inflation pressures as importing into China becomes more expensive.
The USDINR went through peaks and valleys during January, moving from a low of 66.1253 to a high of 68.1619 towards the end of the month, pressured by the US Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision in the final days of January.
It has become a common trend for emerging market currencies to come under extreme selling pressure before the Fed’s monthly rate decisions, with anxieties ongoing that the Fed will raise interest rates once again in the upcoming months following the first interest rate rise in December 2015.
The Indian Rupee is still falling victim to a weak sentiment towards the emerging markets, and it is likely that the central bank are still having to intervene in the FX markets to defend the local currency. The positive news for India is that the economic data is looking strong and it appears that the lower interest rate environment has had a positive impact on consumption.
The negative news for the currency is that the robust GDP outlook is not yet having an impact on the Rupee, and that the local currency is still vulnerable to further gradual declines if the emerging market sentiment remains weak.
Indonesia’s currency – the Rupiah – was no exception to the volatility. The USDIDR was seen moving from 13590 to 14069 in dramatic fashion, impacted by the unfortunate explosions in Jakarta and an overall bearish sentiment for emerging currencies.
The underlying fundamentals don’t paint a pretty picture; Indonesia missed its GDP target of 5.7 percent for 2015, finishing the year at the lower-than-expected level of 4.73 percent. A widening deficit is also being eyed by investors as a sign of future economic risks.
The Indonesian Rupiah had a disappointing start to the year, with the local currency seeing its sentiment weakened by various different factors. Investor sentiment was obviously weakened by the tragic explosions in Jakarta, while the resumption of selling in the commodity markets also led to the USDIDR returning above 14000.
With Indonesia being seen as a heavy commodity exporter alongside strong trade links to China, GDP output is expected to continue slipping lower and I believe this may result in an interest rate deduction by the Bank of Indonesia.
Nigeria’s central bank is faced by a Naira weakened by low Oil prices and the global slowdown, but it has so far declined to lower the current interest rate of 11 percent or to devalue the currency.
The USDNGN moved between a low of 198.0000 and a high of 199.4097, and with the Oil prices set for a short-term bearish future, the volatility is likely to be making its presence felt in the coming months.
There might be some expectations that the Nigerian central bank will need to reduce interest rates, but I think that the weakening Naira will lead to higher inflation pressures and this means that reducing interest rates might not be an option for the central bank.
With the oil markets hitting further milestone lows and dropping below psychological support levels, it looks like depressed commodity prices will remain a trend for a prolonged period and this basically means that the Naira will also remain depressed. There is very little that the Nigerian central bank can do to combat this, and a potential rebound in the Naira can only be helped by an improved oil price.
Out of all the emerging currencies, the Malaysian Ringgit fared the best in January with the USDMYR moving in a range between 4.14 and a high of 4.43.
The clearing of Prime Minister Najib Razak from the 1MDB scandal and the hopeful conclusion to this saga should improve investor confidence.
The combination over the clearing of Prime Minister Najib from the 1MDB scandal and an improved rebound in the oil markets at the end of the month led to a positive conclusion to January for the Malaysian Ringgit.
We have seen a rebound for the Malaysian Ringgit, but I am wary that the currency has reached a “top” for now. I also expect for the revision to the budget to only have a short-term positive impact on the local currency.
What Malaysians need to focus on is the oil markets, because the failure of WTI oil to surpass $35 on Friday 29th January would have encouraged profit-taking from traders.
This will also increase the risk of WTI oil returning close to $30 in the opening trading days of February, which also means that the USDMYR is at risk to returning above 4.20.
The United Arab Emirates Dirham tracked the strong USD dollar to which it is pegged, with the USDAED moving in a narrow range of 3.6718 and 3.6733 throughout January.
The biggest factor that affected the AED was the strong USD and there may be some knock-on effect on tourism due to lower buying power.
With regard to other factors, oil revenues are expected to stay flat in 2016 given the accelerated selling in oil, with this likely having a negative impact on GDP growth.
I actually see the stronger Dirham as a positive for the UAE economy because it allows for the UAE to import from abroad at a cheaper price, which might also alleviate some of the possible pressure on GDP growth due to the depressed price of oil.
We do however expect for the milestone lows in the oil markets to continue adding pressure on local equity markets, which will also remain at risk to any potential increase in geo-political tensions around the region.
The combination between both the resumption of aggressive selling in the oil markets and the increased geo-political tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran meant that local equity markets suffered throughout January.
Overall, it was a challenging first month for the emerging currency markets with renewed selling in the oil markets and the resumption of concerns over the China economy leading this currencies to losses.
Federal Ministry of Finance has halted enforcement of about N680 million in disputed fees imposed by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) on NICON Insurance Limited and Nigeria Reinsurance Corporation (Nig Re) as part of the ongoing insurance industry recapitalisation exercise.
The Ministry also directed NAICOM to suspend its demand that the two companies transfer their entire recapitalisation funds into an escrow account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), pending determination of a petition challenging the legality of the charges and the directive.
The intervention followed a July 27, 2026 petition by NICON and Nig Re over what they described as unlawful fees and regulatory demands arising from the implementation of the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIIRA) 2025.
In a letter to the Commissioner for Insurance, Raymond Omachi, permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, on behalf of Taiwo Oyedele, minister of Finance and coordinating minister of the Economy, requested that NAICOM provide a detailed response and legal justification for the disputed requirements.
The Ministry specifically directed the Commission to suspend enforcement of the contested processing and verification fees, the one per cent Capital Injection Fee, and the directive requiring the companies to transfer their full recapitalisation funds to a CBN escrow account.
The dispute centres on NAICOM’s assessment of a one per cent fee on capital injected by operators, alongside additional processing and verification charges prescribed under Appendix 2 of the Commission’s Minimum Capital Requirement Guidelines.
According to the petition, the combined assessments amounted to N305 million for NICON and N375 million for Nig Re, bringing the disputed charges to N680 million.
The companies are also challenging what they described as an unconstitutional requirement to transfer more than the statutory proportion of their recapitalisation funds to the CBN.
They contend that Section 16(3) of NIIRA 2025 provides for a 10 per cent statutory deposit, and not the transfer of the entire capital injection into an escrow account.
The companies told the Ministry that they had already met the July 31, 2026 recapitalisation deadline.
NICON said it injected N420 billion, while Nig Re injected N30 billion into Mudaraba Term Deposit accounts with Lotus Bank Limited. The companies maintained that the amounts exceeded their adjusted recapitalisation requirements of N16 billion and N28 billion, respectively.
They further stated that they had deposited N42.5 billion and N43.5 billion respectively with the CBN, in compliance with the statutory deposit requirement under Section 16(3) of the new law.
The companies also disclosed that they had made initial payments of N480 million and N75 million, respectively, in fees.
The Finance Ministry’s directive effectively places the disputed charges and escrow requirement on hold while NAICOM is expected to justify the legal and regulatory basis for its actions.
The intervention could have wider implications for the insurance industry’s recapitalisation programme, particularly as operators face regulatory deadlines to strengthen their capital base under the new insurance law.
The controversy also raises questions about the extent to which regulatory guidelines can impose additional financial obligations on operators beyond those expressly provided for under the enabling legislation.
NAICOM is now expected to respond to the Ministry’s request and explain the statutory basis for the one per cent capital injection fee, the additional processing and verification charges, and the requirement for the full capital injection to be transferred into a CBN escrow account.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has launched a nationwide awareness campaign aimed at helping investors and beneficiaries recover unclaimed dividends and inherited investments, as part of efforts to strengthen investor protection and reduce the volume of dormant assets in Nigeria’s capital market.
The initiative, unveiled in Abuja through the Probate/Unclaimed Monies Awareness and Investor Clinic, seeks to educate investors, beneficiaries and estate executors on probate procedures, estate administration and the processes involved in accessing financial assets left behind by deceased relatives.
Speaking at the event, Dr Emomotimi Agama, the Director-General of the SEC, said the Commission was addressing a long-standing challenge that had prevented many families from accessing investments belonging to deceased relatives.
Agama said many beneficiaries face difficulties obtaining probate, letters of administration, death certificates and other documents required to claim shares, dividends and other financial assets.
“For many Nigerian families, the death of a loved one who held shares, dividends or other investments marks the beginning of a long and often confusing journey,” he said.
According to him, the complexity surrounding estate administration often leaves beneficiaries unable to access legitimate investments and other financial assets inherited from deceased relatives.
He described unclaimed dividends and dormant assets as a major concern for the Nigerian capital market, noting that the funds represent money that should be benefiting families but remains idle because beneficiaries are unable to access them.
“Across our market, unclaimed dividends and dormant assets represent real money—money that belongs to real families, sitting idle, disconnected from the people it was meant to serve,” Agama said.
The SEC DG said the Commission was committed to bridging the gap through policy reforms, investor education and sustained engagement with investors, beneficiaries and other stakeholders in the capital market.
He stressed the importance of ensuring that investors and their families were adequately informed about the procedures for documenting, preserving and transferring financial assets to beneficiaries.
Agama said the awareness campaign would also provide an avenue for members of the public to better understand probate processes and the requirements for recovering unclaimed monies and inherited investments.
Also speaking, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of Meristem Registrars and Probate Services Limited, Ms Nkechinyelu Okoye, identified poor awareness and inadequate estate planning as major factors contributing to the accumulation of unclaimed financial assets.
Okoye said some beneficiaries were unaware that financial assets such as shares and dividends formed part of a deceased person’s estate, while others did not know that their deceased relatives had investments in the capital market.
She added that some beneficiaries were also unfamiliar with the documentation and legal procedures required to establish their entitlement and successfully claim the assets.
According to her, these challenges often result in financial assets remaining unclaimed for extended periods, even when legitimate beneficiaries are available.
The initiative is expected to improve public awareness of probate and estate administration procedures while helping more families identify and recover investments and other financial assets belonging to them.
It is also part of broader efforts to reduce the volume of unclaimed dividends and dormant assets in the capital market and ensure that funds belonging to investors and their beneficiaries are returned to their rightful owners.
United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, africa’s global bank, has partnered Mikano Motors to launch an auto financing scheme, themed: ‘Drive Your Dream Today’, specifically designed to ease the purchase of new vehicles by making them more accessible to Nigerians.
General Manager, Mikano Motors, Tarek Mostafa; Executive Director, Personal and Business Banking, United Bank for Africa, Chidi Okpala and National Operations Manager, Syam Abdulkadir, during a partnership signing between both parties, themed: ‘Drive Your Dreams Today’, a Flexible vehicle financing solutions, initiative at the Mikano Showroom in Victoria Island
The flexible Financing solutions Initiative, requires customers to make an initial payment of just 30 percent while the Bank finances the remaining 70 percent.
Unveiled at the Mikano Motors showroom in Victoria Island, Lagos, the scheme allows eligible customers to repay the financed amount in instalments over a period of 36 months at an interest rate of 23 percent.
The financing is available to a broad range of customers, including individuals who are not on a salaried income, providing entrepreneurs, and other eligible Nigerians with a structured pathway to vehicle ownership.
The process begins with a simple eligibility check. Interested customers can visit their nearest UBA branch or email [email protected] to confirm their eligibility. Once approved, customers can proceed to Mikano Motors to obtain a proforma invoice for their preferred vehicle and continue with the financing process.
Speaking at the launch, UBA’s Group Executive Director, designate, Personal and Business Banking, Chidi Okpala, said the partnership reflects the Bank’s commitment to making everyday aspirations more attainable while promoting a stronger credit culture and advancing financial inclusion.
“Owning a car should not be out of reach for hardworking Nigerians, and this partnership makes it far more achievable,” Okpala said. “A customer puts down 30 percent, we finance the rest, and they pay us back comfortably over a three years period. By removing the single biggest barrier to vehicle ownership where a customer just commits with an upfront cost, we are showing what customer-first banking looks like in practice, which is making their lives easier, by meeting our customers where they are and helping them get where they want to be.”
Also speaking, UBA’s Group Head, Consumer Lending, Frank Okoh, said the scheme was designed to make vehicle financing straightforward and accessible to both salaried and self-employed customers.
“We have kept the entry simple and the terms clear, whether you earn a salary or run your own business,” Okoh said. “A short eligibility check at any branch or by email is all it takes to begin, and our team guides the customer through every step to the moment they collect their keys.”
For Mikano Motors, the partnership provides an opportunity to extend its vehicle ownership proposition to a wider pool of Nigerians
The company’s General Manager, Tarek Mostafa, said the collaboration aligns with Mikano Motors’ vision of providing customers with a high-end ownership experience supported by reliable after-sales services.
“Mikano Motors was established to give Nigerians a high-end ownership experience, from the showroom to years down the road,” Mostafa said. “The backbone of any automotive business is not just the sale, but the after-sales service that follows. Every vehicle we sell is backed by genuine spare parts, reliable maintenance and quality service available anywhere in the country. Wherever you are we would come meet you at no extra cost”
“Partnering with UBA lets more customers enjoy that experience, and we are proud to build lasting relationships alongside a bank that shares our commitment to service,” he added.
Established in 2018 under Mikano International, Mikano Motors builds on more than 35 years of the group’s presence in Nigeria. The company offers a diversified portfolio of vehicles supported by nationwide sales and after-sales services.
The partnership further strengthens UBA’s consumer lending proposition, providing customers with structured financing solutions designed around accessibility, affordability and convenience. Through partnerships such as this, the Bank continues to expand access to credit while helping customers meet significant personal and lifestyle needs with ease.
United Bank for Africa is one of the largest employers in the financial sector on the African continent, with 25,000 employees group-wide and serving over 45 million customers globally. Operating in twenty African countries, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France and the United Arab Emirates, UBA provides retail, commercial and institutional banking services, leading financial inclusion and implementing cutting-edge technology.
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