Forex

U.K. Construction PMI Inches Higher in February

Published

6 years ago

March 2, 2018

Samed Olukoya

U.K. Construction PMI Inches Higher in February

Business activity in the UK construction sector inched higher in February despite rising input cost.

The construction Purchasing Managers’ Index climbed from January’s 4-month low of 50.2 to 51.4 in February, IHS Markit reported on Friday. This indicated a slight increase in construction activities during the month, but lower than the 2017 average of 52.3.

Similarly, input inflation remained strong, driven mainly by the high cost of raw materials, fuel costs and wages. According to the report, while the increase in costs pushed operating expenses up in the month, input cost inflation was much softer than the five and a half year peak recorded at the start of 2017.

However, rising Brexit uncertainty continued to hurt new investment as new business volume fell in February on fragile client confidence and lack of tender opportunities to replace completed work on infrastructure projects.

Low business activity and weak new orders also weighed on input purchase during the month, even though it helped alleviate some of the supply chains’ challenges reported in the manufacturing PMI released on Thursday.

Duncan Brock, Director of Customer Relationships at the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply, said: “The sector was feeling as flat as a pancake in February with falls in new orders for the second month in a row and with just a marginal rise in overall activity, as ongoing political and economic uncertainty shouldered the blame.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Theresa May is scheduled to detail how the U.K. plans to exit the European Union and build business confidence ahead of Brexit negotiation. Businesses and investors are waiting to deduce economic direction from the speech, especially after data showed manufacturing PMI declined in February and President Donald Trump announced possible tariffs increment on import steel and aluminum.

The pound rebounded against the U.S dollar as projected following President Trump’s statement on tariffs but extended its decline against the Japanese yen.

After GBPJPY closed below our weekly target at 146.81, the yen surged further on BOJ’s statement that the central bank will start looking into balance sheet normalization in 2019. While this does not confirm potential rate hike in 2019, the markets believe the possibility is there giving all the fundamentals.

Therefore, we expect the strong yen attractiveness due to U.S. uncertainty and weak pound fundamentals to push GBPJPY down to 143.65 as projected yesterday.

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Samed Olukoya

Is the CEO/Founder of Investors King Limited. A proven foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Businessinsider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and many more. He has over two decades of experience in global financial markets.

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Forex

Bureau De Change Operators Demand CBN Reversal on New Capital Requirement

Published

3 days ago

May 29, 2024

Samed Olukoya

In a move that underscores growing tensions between the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), the latter has vehemently demanded the reversal of the new capital requirements set forth by the apex bank.

The CBN recently issued fresh guidelines for the operations of Bureau De Change (BDC) operators, introducing two new categories of licenses with significantly higher capital bases.

The Tier 1 category necessitates a minimum capital requirement of N2 billion, alongside non-refundable application and license fees of N1 million and N5 million, respectively.

Similarly, Tier 2 BDCs are mandated to maintain a minimum capital base of N500 million, with corresponding fees.

This move by the CBN has elicited strong opposition from BDC operators, who argue that the new requirements pose a significant threat to their businesses.

During a virtual meeting themed “New CBN Regulatory & Supervisory Reforms for BDCs: Challenges and Way Forward,” the association presented recommendations aimed at addressing their concerns.

ABCON President, Aminu Gwadebe, emphasized the urgency of the situation, demanding the immediate reversal of the financial requirements.

He proposed a return to the previously submitted proposal, suggesting capital thresholds of N500 million for Tier 1, N100 million for Tier 2, and N35 million for Tier 3.

Also, he advocated for existing BDC owners to be given the opportunity to recapitalize instead of reapplying for licenses.

The association further urged the CBN to recognize the existing N35 million capital requirement and incorporate it into the recapitalization process.

They called for a nationwide enlightenment campaign to allay investors’ fears and an extension of the compliance timeline to two years for fairness. Furthermore, existing BDCs should be permitted to retain their generic names, and the terms of engagement for mergers and acquisitions clarified.

Operators expressed outright rejection of the new guidelines, with concerns raised about the CBN’s perception of their role in the financial sector.

Ibrahim Bala voiced the collective sentiment, labeling the guidelines as unacceptable, while Kayode Taiwo questioned the government’s motives behind the capital hike.

In response, the CBN defended its stance, emphasizing the importance of corporate governance and compliance with anti-money laundering regulations for BDC operators.

As the standoff between BDC operators and the CBN intensifies, the outcome of this dispute will likely shape the future landscape of Nigeria’s foreign exchange market.

Naira

Black Market Dollar (USD) to Naira (NGN) Exchange Rate Today 29th May 2024

The black market, also known as the parallel market or Aboki fx, US dollar to Nigerian Naira exchange rate as of May 29th, 2024 stood at 1 USD to ₦1,520.

Published

3 days ago

May 29, 2024

Samed Olukoya

The black market, also known as the parallel market or Aboki fx, US dollar to Nigerian Naira exchange rate as of May 29th, 2024 stood at 1 USD to ₦1,520.

Recent data from Bureau De Change (BDC) reveals that buyers in the Lagos Parallel Market purchased a dollar for ₦1,510 and sold it at ₦1,500 on Monday, May 28th, 2024.

This indicates a decline in the Naira exchange rate when compared to today’s rate.

The black market rate plays a crucial role for investors and participants, offering a real-time reflection of currency dynamics outside official or regulated exchange channels.

Monitoring these rates provides insights into the immediate value of the Naira against the dollar, guiding decision-making processes for individuals and businesses alike.

It’s important to note that while the black market offers valuable insights, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) does not officially recognize its existence.

The CBN advises individuals engaging in forex transactions to utilize official banking channels, emphasizing the importance of compliance with regulatory frameworks.

How much is dollar to naira today in the black market

For those navigating the currency exchange landscape, here are the latest figures for the black market exchange rate:

Buying Rate: ₦1,520
Selling Rate: ₦1,510

As economic conditions continue to evolve, staying informed about currency exchange rates empowers individuals to make informed financial decisions. While the black market provides immediate insights, adherence to regulatory guidelines ensures stability and transparency in forex transactions.

Naira

Black Market Dollar (USD) to Naira (NGN) Exchange Rate Today 28th May 2024

The black market, also known as the parallel market or Aboki fx, US dollar to Nigerian Naira exchange rate as of May 28th, 2024 stood at 1 USD to ₦1,510.

Published

4 days ago

May 28, 2024

Samed Olukoya

The black market, also known as the parallel market or Aboki fx, US dollar to Nigerian Naira exchange rate as of May 28th, 2024 stood at 1 USD to ₦1,510.

Recent data from Bureau De Change (BDC) reveals that buyers in the Lagos Parallel Market purchased a dollar for ₦1,520 and sold it at ₦1,510 on Monday, May 27th, 2024.

This indicates an improvement in the Naira exchange rate when compared to today’s rate.

The black market rate plays a crucial role for investors and participants, offering a real-time reflection of currency dynamics outside official or regulated exchange channels.

Monitoring these rates provides insights into the immediate value of the Naira against the dollar, guiding decision-making processes for individuals and businesses alike.

It’s important to note that while the black market offers valuable insights, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) does not officially recognize its existence.

The CBN advises individuals engaging in forex transactions to utilize official banking channels, emphasizing the importance of compliance with regulatory frameworks.