News
Nigeria Waits for Complete Election Results
By Lukman Otunuga, FXTM Research Analyst
Whatever the outcome of Nigeria’s presidential election, it will certainly have an impact on investor sentiment.
Foreign investors need to see Nigeria stepping up its efforts to diversifying away from oil dependence, while also boosting infrastructure spending across major sectors. If the correct strategy is implemented towards improving local macroeconomic conditions and shielding against external forces, Nigeria could move a step close to nearing its true potential. Although the elections will affect investor confidence in the near term, it’s the critical steps taking after that will shape sentiment towards the largest economy in Africa.
Pound clings onto Brexit delay hopes
Pound bulls were injected with a renewed sense of confidence this morning following reports that UK Prime Minister Theresa May could delay Brexit beyond 29 March.
This development will certainly remove some element of uncertainty over Brexit whilst soothing fears over the UK crashing out of the EU without a deal in place next month. However, a major risk accompanied by extending Article 50 is that Britain will find itself trapped in a Brexit limbo. While the Pound has scope to extend gains on Brexit delay expectations, the medium to longer term outlook remains blurred by a thick cloud of uncertainty. With the odds of a second referendum also rising after Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn made a U-turn to back the move, another question floating in the air is whether there will even be a Brexit.
With just over one month left until the UK is scheduled to leave the European Union, we expect the Pound to display extreme levels of sensitivity and volatility to Brexit headlines. Although some attention will be directed towards the inflation report hearings later today, this will likely be overshadowed by a crucial cabinet meeting where the Brexit deadline will be discussed.
Focusing on the technical picture, the GBPUSD is pushing higher on the daily charts with prices trading around 1.3130 as of writing. The combination of Brexit delay expectations and Dollar weakness has the potential to push the GBPUSD towards 1.3200 in the near term.
Dollar waits for Jerome Powell
The Dollar has lost its mojo in recent days, slipping closer to the 96 psychological level due to a number of domestic and external factors.
A string of soft economic data from the United States, coupled with growing speculation over the Fed taking a break on monetary tightening this year, has brought nothing but bad news for the Dollar. The risk-on flows have also pulled investors away from safe-haven assets and currencies, which will inevitably pressure the Dollar further. Although Dollar bulls were initially supported by the economic divergence between the US and everyone else, this theme could be coming to an end.
Much attention will be directed towards Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s congressional testimony later in the day. Powell’s testimony could offer investors some additional insight into the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy stance for 2019. The central bank head is expected to reiterate that the Federal Reserve will remain “patient” on future hikes. We see the Dollar weakening against a basket of major currencies if Powell adopts a dovish tone during his testimony.
Commodity spotlight – Gold
Gold weakened towards $1,326 this morning, as US-China trade optimism sent investors sprinting to riskier assets.
Although the precious metal is at risk of depreciating further in the short term amid the risk-on sentiment, the medium to longer term outlook swings in favour of Gold bulls. For as long as geopolitical risks, concerns over plateauing global growth and speculation over the Fed taking a pause on rate hikes remain key themes, Gold is insulated from extreme downside shocks.
In regards to the technical picture, sustained weakness below $1,330 is likely to encourage a decline towards $1,318. However, bulls still remain in control above the $1,303 higher low.
Legit.ng recently joined forces with the Shade of Life Foundation to become a voice of autism, and drive advocacy for improved media support during Autism Awareness Month.
Participants at the event
Conversations around media support exploration was led by Joseph Omotayo, head of Department for Human Interest Stories at Legit.ng, and Dr. Eziafakaku Nwokolo, founder and CEO of the Shade of Life Foundation,
This partnership is a response to the concerns raised by organizations like the Shade of Life Foundation about the level of support received from the media in discussing autism as a disability.
While other disabilities may receive attention, autism, with its critical developmental implications often lacks adequate representation in mainstream media.
Recognizing the importance of addressing these concerns, Legit.ng took proactive steps by integrating itself into the essence of autism awareness.
It facilitated a one-hour workshop with Dr. Nwokolo, the founder of the foundation, to deepen our understanding of autism, its various spectrums, and the language boundaries associated with it.
Other steps we took in advocating autism awareness in the media, can be seen in our attached press release.
Legit.ng believes that by amplifying the voices of autism and advocating for better media representation, we can contribute to creating a more inclusive and accepting society for all.
While 85 per cent of Nigeria is in darkness, Tanzania, an African country has shut down five hydroelectric stations in a bid to reduce excess electricity in the national grid.
Kassim Majaliwa, prime minister, Tanzania, has said the main plant, Mwalimu Nyerere Hydroelectric Station, alone generated enough electricity to power major cities, including Dar es Salaam, the country’s commercial hub.
It is the first time Tanzania, which suffers chronic power shortages, has closed hydroelectric stations due to excess production.
“We have turned off all these stations because the demand is low and the electricity production is too much, we have no allocation now,” an official from state-run power company, Tanesco, said.
The 2,115MW Julius Nyerere Hydropower Dam is said to be almost filled with water following heavy rains that started early this year.
Meanwhile, while the country has an installed capacity of 1,938MW and the grid installed capacity of 1,899MW, Nigeria which has an installed capacity of 13,000MW is struggling to electrify 85 per cent of its electricity consumers.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Jim Ovia, renowned banker and businessman, as the Chairman, Board of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.
Jim Ovia
Ovia’s appointment is contained in a State House statement titled, ‘President Tinubu appoints Jim Ovia as Chairman of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund,’ and issued on Friday by Ajuri Ngelale, special adviser to the President, Media & Publicity.
The statement noted that “Ovia is the founder of one of Nigeria’s leading banks and a respected business leader, with a surfeit of efforts and benefaction towards nurturing and empowering young Nigerians.
“He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School and holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Louisiana.”
The National Student Loan Programme is a pivotal intervention that seeks to guarantee sustainable higher education and functional skill development for all Nigerian students and youths.
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund, the implementing institution of this innovation, demands excellence and Nigerians of the finest professional ilk to guide and manage.
“The President believes Mr. Ovia will bring his immense wealth of experience and professional stature to this role to advance the all-important vision of ensuring that no Nigerian student suffers a capricious end to their pursuit of higher education over a lack of funds,” the statement partly read.
Ovia’s appointment will also ensure “that Nigerian youths, irrespective of who they are, have access to higher education and skills that will make them productive members of society and core contributors to the knowledge-based global economy of this century.”
Legit.ng, Shade of Life Foundation Partner to Advance Autism Awareness in Nigeria
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