E-Financial
Government Shutdown Still Hurts US Market-ForeTime
Data in the US got off to a weak start last week, with the Retail Sales figures for September disappointing expectations of a 0.2% rise, having fallen by 0.1%.
The poor figure was somewhat vindicated by the fact that sales dropped only in the auto sector, which weighed on the overall percentage for retail sales as a whole.
Whilst this is still bad news for the US, other sectors outside the auto sector fared relatively well and core sales rose by 0.4% as expected. Consumer Confidence experienced a drastic fall in October, sliding to 71.2 points; despite the fact that forecasts told of a fall, it was estimated that the drop would be from 79.7 to 75 points. The actual figure marked a 6 month low and revealed that Americans were significantly disconcerted in October due to the 16 day government shutdown, as reported by ForexTime.
Employment data also suffered last week, with data released on October 31st showing a gain of just 130K in October, the lowest figure since
May and lower than the anticipated 151K. Jobless claims are finally beginning to be more accurate again, as the backlog created due to a glitch in systems in California in September is finally starting to clear. Jobless claims declined to 340K, much in line with expectations.
The result of the Fed meeting which took place on October 31st was none other than the predicted: the monetary policy was left unchanged and bond buying will remain at $85 billion per month.
The Fed expects to see a more substantial improvement in the economy before modifying the pace of bond purchases.
The current week will reveal the US Annualized GDP which is to be released on November 7th and predicted to rise by 2.0%, the Personal Consumption Expenditures released on the same day and predicted to rise by 0.8% and the Nonfarm Payrolls for October, due out on November 18th and estimated at 130K.
Trouble seems to have arrived in the eurozone’s ace of spades, Germany, with the unemployment change released at 2K for October, double the estimated 1K, making for a total of 2.97 million of the population unemployed. This is the third consecutive month that the German unemployment rate has increased and it clearly spells out a slowdown in the eurozone’s strongest economy.
Further dampening spirits was the eurozone Core Inflation which hit a four year low of 0.7% in October, dropping from September’s 1.1% and remaining substantially below the ECB’s 2% target.
The Core CPI for the eurozone also declined in October, rising by just 0.8% in comparison to September’s 1%.
The euro suffered following the announcement of the negative chain of news last week, trading at 1.3676. On November 7th, the ECB will announce its interest rate decision which is largely expected to stay unchanged, but will also at the same time likely attempt to deliver the message that it will not hesitate to take action to alleviate monetary conditions.
The eurozone is far from safe when it comes to financial difficulties and if ECB President Mario Draghi allows his concern to show during the ECB Press Conference on the 7th, the euro is likely to plunge again.
On the British front, last week seems to have ended on a high, with more and more mortgage approvals adding up to make for a 5 year high of 66,735, indicating a strong economic recovery through the housing sector. The end of the month came with the release of the Gfk Consumer Confidence for September which has continued in its gradual improvement, up to -8 points following on from August’s 5 year high of -10. Nationwide housing prices also skyrocketed according to data released on October 31st, rising by 5.8% and marking a 3 year high whilst acting as a central factor in boosting the UK’s economic recovery.
The most important releases to look out for this week in the UK include the GDP Estimate on November 6th, the Asset Purchase Facility on November 7th which is predicted to stay at £375B and the Bank of England Interest Rate Decision which is expected to remain the same. Estimates foretell that the interest rate is not likely to be raised until 2015 because despite the fact that the UK economy is progressing so rapidly, the unemployment rate is still not at the level desired by the Bank of England.
Japanese households surprised the economy pleasantly according to the September figures released by the Statistics Bureau on October 28th, household spending increasing by 3.7% after declining by 1.6% in August and soaring above expectations of a mere 0.5% rise. Good news followed for the rest of the week, industrial production in Japan also rising by 1.5% and the national unemployment rate declining to 4%, exactly in line with expectations.
The Nomura/ JMMA manufacturing PMI climbed to 54.2 for the month of October, indicating positive movement in the Japanese manufacturing sector. As for the Bank of Japan interest rate, it has remained unchanged at 0.1% as attempts to end the long years of deflation continue. This week, on Tuesday November 5th, the Bank of Japan Monetary Meeting Minutes will be released with comments due to on the state of the economy and the current policies.
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has extended the enforcement date for the mandatory geo-fencing of Point-of-Sale (PoS) terminals to August 1, 2026, in a move aimed at giving financial institutions and payment service providers additional time to comply with the regulatory framework.
The directive was contained in a circular dated May 29, 2026, signed by Dr. Rakiya Yusuf, director of the Payments System Supervision Department, and obtained from the apex bank’s website on Friday.
The circular was addressed to Deposit Money Banks, Microfinance Banks, Mobile Money Operators, Switching and Processing Companies, Payment Terminal Service Providers, Payment Solution Service Providers, Super Agents and other licensed operators in the financial ecosystem.
According to the CBN, the extension followed stakeholder engagements and operational considerations arising from earlier directives issued in August 2025 on ISO 20022 migration and mandatory geo-tagging of payment terminals.
The apex bank also announced adjustments to the framework, increasing the permissible geo-fence radius for PoS terminals from 10 metres to 70 metres, in addition to shifting the enforcement deadline.
“Geo-fence radius is hereby increased from 10 metres to 70 metres,” the circular stated, adding that enforcement of the requirement has been moved to August 1, 2026.
Geo-fencing is designed to restrict PoS operations to approved merchant locations, strengthening transaction monitoring and reducing fraud within the electronic payment system.
The CBN directed all affected institutions to submit evidence of compliance on or before July 31, 2026, through the Payments System Supervision Department.
“Evidence of compliance to the above should be addressed… not later than July 31, 2026,” the circular added.
Financial institutions were also instructed to resolve all outstanding technical and operational issues with the National Central Switch to ensure seamless implementation.
The extension is expected to provide operators additional time to upgrade systems and align with regulatory requirements ahead of full enforcement.
Nigerian capital market will officially transition to a one-day (T+1) settlement cycle on Monday, June 1, 2026, cutting the time required to finalise securities and commodities transactions in half.
The mandate, formally announced by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires all eligible trades to settle exactly one business day after the trade date, replacing the previous two-day (T+2) standard.
The SEC noted that the journey from T+3 to T+2, and now to T+1, took less than seven months, highlighting an aggressive push toward market modernisation.
To ensure a seamless launch, the SEC has outlined a unique convergence window for the transition.
Friday, served as the final trading day under the old T+2 system, consequently, trades executed on both May 29 and Monday, June 1, will visually converge and settle on the exact same day: Tuesday, June 2, 2026.
From June 1 onward, all transactions will strictly operate under the 24-hour T+1 timeline.
The migration is being coordinated on the technical front by the Central Securities Clearing System Plc (CSCS), the market’s central depository, alongside major securities exchanges, trade associations, and brokerage firms.
According to financial regulators, the compressed timeline will immediately benefit retail investors by providing quicker access to cash proceeds from share sales.
For institutional players and custodians, the shift requires an immediate reconfiguration of back-office systems and reconciliation workflows to meet the faster execution demands.
Mr. Shehu Yahaya Shantali, managing director and chief executive officer of CSCS, stated that the infrastructure overhaul positions Nigeria alongside top-tier international frameworks.
“The transition to T+1 represents another important milestone in the evolution of Nigeria’s capital market infrastructure.
“It reflects the market’s readiness to embrace reforms that enhance efficiency, strengthen investor confidence, improve liquidity, and align Nigeria more closely with leading global markets,” Shantali said.
Shantali credited the market-wide readiness to months of intensive system upgrades and joint planning spearheaded by the SEC and the T+1 Implementation Plan Committee.
By compressing the settlement cycle, the SEC aims to reduce counterparty exposure, lower systemic settlement risks, and boost overall market liquidity.
The regulator emphasised that this reform bridges the infrastructure gap with developed economies, following the United States, Canada, and Mexico, which migrated to T+1 in May 2024, as well as India’s recent strides toward instantaneous settlement.
The SEC stated it will continue to monitor operational workflows and engage market participants through its automated division ([email protected]) to ensure an orderly transition.
To formalise the launch, CSCS and the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) will host a joint Special Closing Gong ceremony on June 1 at the NGX House in Lagos, drawing together institutional heavyweights and regulatory bodies to mark the start of the live environment.
Leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc’s international subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited, has announced a commitment to support Nigerians – both individuals and corporations – in acquiring properties in the United Kingdom.
L – R: The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Honourable Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Abayomi Oluyomi; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, FidBank UK Ltd, Mr. Johnson Ememandu; Chairman, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mrs. Amaka Onwughalu; British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Mr. Jonny Baxter; and Chairman, FidBank UK Ltd and Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe; at the FidBank UK Ltd exclusive product showcase held at the British Deputy High Commissioner’s residence in Lagos recently.
Fidbank UK which provides a comprehensive suite of financial services, including trade finance, personal and business banking, treasury services, commercial lending, and private banking, is set to deliver tailored financial solutions for high-net-worth individuals (HNIs) seeking to invest in the UK real estate market through its FidBank Buy-to-Let product.
This announcement was made at an exclusive product showcase hosted by the British Deputy High Commissioner, Mr. Jonny Baxter at his Residence in Lagos on Tuesday, 26 May 2026. The event was attended by a select audience comprising captains of industry and corporate leaders.
Highlighting the significance of the event, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of FidBank UK Ltd, Mr. Johnson Enemadu, said: “This event is about showcasing to the market and our customers that there is something exciting in the market and we are able to take them along in this journey, supporting their businesses by bringing capital both in the financial institutions and corporate space and also for our high networth inidividuals. It is a total experience.
“Today’s event is also taking place against the backdrop of strengthened bilateral relations between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, highlighted by the recent state visit of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the UK. This renewed engagement between both countries continues to unlock new pathways for trade, investment, and financial collaboration; and FidBank UK is pleased to play a leading role in driving this.”
In his welcome remarks, the British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Mr. Jonny Baxter said: “The United Kingdom remains firmly committed to deepening its economic partnership with Nigeria, with a clear focus on driving inclusive, sustainable investment, trade and economic growth. London’s position as a leading global financial centre is central to this, supported by robust financial infrastructure that enables efficient trade flows and seamless cross-border transactions between our markets.
It is therefore encouraging to see institutions such as FidBank UK advancing financial service offerings that not only expand investment opportunities in the UK, but also strengthen the financial systems supporting growing commercial ties. We welcome and support efforts that continue to enhance liquidity, facilitate trade, and drive sustainable UK-Nigeria economic connections.”
The well-attended event also featured art exhibitions by two of Nigeria’s leading visual art talents -Femi Morakinyo and Oswald Chukwunyeremugo – who displayed their latest works to the admiration of the guests.
Also speaking at the event, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Honourable Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Abayomi Oluyomi, lauded the initiative as it aligned with the administration’s T.H.E.M.E.S. Agenda, saying:
“FidBank UK offers a private banking relationship grounded in regulatory rigour and institutional trust. This is not a catalogue of products, it is a comprehensive financial architecture built for people who live, work and invest across the Nigerian-UK corridor”.
Operating from the heart of the City of London since 1983, FidBank UK provides a comprehensive range of banking services to customers doing business from and into Nigeria and other West African countries, including trade finance, personal banking, business banking, treasury services, commercial lending and private banking.
The bank is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority and subscribe to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
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