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Why CBN May Not Raise Rates in 2019

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Godwin Emefiele CBN - Investors King
  • Why CBN May Not Raise Rates in 2019

The uncertainty surrounding global growth is forcing central banks to make monetary adjustments in order to stimulate and sustain growth.

Global View

On Tuesday, the Federal Reserve Chair, Jerome Powell, said the central bank will do anything possible to sustain U.S economic productivity.

The comment was after previously signaling zero rate hike earlier this year, however, the inability of President Trump to reach an agreement with the Chinese has changed the dynamics of global trade in recent months and expected to further erode productivity in developed economies if nothing is done.

According to the U.S central bank, weak global growth amid efforts to maintain 2 percent inflation rate will necessitate monetary adjustments.

This has led to many experts projecting that the Federal Reserve will cut rates by 50 basis points this year, with the odds of that happening jumping to 70 percent this week.

In Australia, the story is not different, the Reserve Bank of Australia cut rates by 25 basis points for the first time in over three years on Tuesday, citing weak growth amid record low unemployment rate and sluggish wage increase.

The European Central Bank and the Bank of Japan are expected to increase economic stimulus, especially after the Fed’s comment and Australia move.

Nigeria

While the Central Bank of Nigeria lowered interest rate by 50 basis points to 13.5 percent in the first quarter, citing improved macro factors. The truth is the CBN led Monetary Policy Committee lowered interest rate after enough evidence showed the U.S., the European Central Bank, Bank of England, the People’s Bank of China and Bank of Japan won’t be raising rates in 2019 given the fragile state of global economy and the uncertainty surrounding the U.S-China trade talks.

The apex bank anticipated that the disruption in crude oil exports from Venezuela and Libya, Iranian sanctions and OPEC+ production cuts will sustain crude oil at about $70 a barrel, while expecting foreign investors to continue to invest in Nigeria considering 13.5 percent is still high and knowing developed economies are not raising rates in 2019.

But with the crude oil now trading at about $61 a barrel, down from $73 following the fallout between the U.S and China, Nigeria’s foreign reserves would benefit from the likely capital inflows into emerging economies.

This coupled with the foreign reserves currently standing at a record high of $45.2 billion, moderating inflation rate of 11.37 percent and the implementation of the signed N8.91 trillion 2019 budget will give the CBN enough room to adjust to global happenings and still manage the economy effectively without necessarily raising the interest rate.

A situation that would sustain the CBN’s ability to regulate the foreign exchange market through its intermittent intervention.

Still, a clear economic policy is needed to encourage capital inflow given the surged in the risks associated with emerging assets –U.S experts/analysts are already predicting economic recession for 2020.

Therefore, Nigeria’s economy needs to be positioned with a strong economic team and a clear policy path to attract investors ahead of South Africa and other emerging markets with better economic policies.

Is the CEO and Founder of Investors King Limited. He is a seasoned foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Business Insider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and other prominent platforms. With over two decades of experience in global financial markets, Olukoya is well-recognized in the industry.

Banking Sector

CBN Assures Nigerians of Bank Deposits’ Safety Amid Online Disruptions

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Bank - Investors King

Amid growing challenges of maintenance delays and internet disruptions being faced by many of the commercial banks in Nigeria, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has assured depositors and other clients that their money is intact.

Reassuring the public of its unwavering commitment to ensuring the stability and reliability of the Nigerian financial system, the apex bank asked Nigerians not to panic, stating that it remains dedicated to fostering a secure banking environment where depositors can be fully confident in the safety of their funds.

In a statement signed by Hakama Sidi Ali, Acting Director, Corporate Communications, CBN, the apex bank noted that it recognises the crucial role confidence plays in banking operations and wants to affirm that all deposits in Nigerian banks are secure.

Ali said the CBN is actively ensuring that banks adhere to established regulations and best practices to maintain the integrity of the nation’s financial system.

According to him, regular stress testing is conducted to identify potential vulnerabilities, helping to ensure that the financial institutions are resilient.

He added that the CBN has implemented Early Warning Systems that proactively detect and address emerging risks, allowing the bank to provide timely solutions to any foreseen issues.

The statement pointed out that the bank’s approach to Risk Based Supervision ensures that it focuses its regulatory efforts on institutions that may pose the highest risk to the financial system.

“This targeted strategy allows it to maintain a robust oversight mechanism while promoting the overall health of the banking sector,” it stated.

Ali disclosed that the CBN has established a Memoranda of Understanding with the various countries where Nigerian banks’ subsidiaries are located, adding that the collaboration enhances regulatory coordination and ensures that the nation’s banks operate within a safe and sound framework in accordance with banking regulations, both domestically and internationally.

He further assured bank customers that the CBN remains dedicated to fostering a secure banking environment where depositors can be fully confident in the safety of their funds.

The statement revealed CBN’s plans to continue to monitor and adapt strategies to safeguard the financial interests of all Nigerians and stakeholders in our financial system.

Investors King had reported that customers of Zenith Bank recently expressed their frustration over difficulties with online banking transactions.

Just like other banks, Zenith Bank witnessed online service disruptions and maintenance delays for hours as its customers experienced hitch in sending, receiving money and viewing their balance on their bank apps.

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Banking Sector

Unity Bank, CashToken Rewards Promo Produces New Millionaire

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A Unity Bank customer, Mr. Amadi Chinmenem Gift Chike, has emerged as the latest winner of One Million Naira in the ongoing Cash Rewards Promo by Unity Bank Plc and CashToken Rewards Africa.

CashToken Rewards Africa is a Cash-Reward-as-a-Service company that rewards customers for their patronage and loyalty.

Mr. Amadi, a customer from Unity Bank’s Aba Road Branch, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, won the cash prize after completing qualifying transactions on Unity Bank’s digital banking channels including Unifi, *7799#, and on his Unity Bank-issued Verve card. Through these transactions, he received CashTokens, which entered him into the weekly national consumer draw, where he was selected as the lucky winner of the N1 million prize.

The grand prize winner, Mr. Amadi is the second customer to claim the N1 million grand prize in the rewards promo, which commenced in November 2023. Since the launch, Unity Bank customers have collectively won over N6 million in cash rewards.

Unity Bank and CashToken Rewards promo offers guaranteed instant cash rewards and life-changing opportunities for loyal customers who transact on any of the Bank’s electronic payment platforms, including the Unifi mobile banking application and the *7799# USSD platform. Every card transaction earns customers CashTokens, which qualify them for the weekly national consumer draw, with prizes ranging from N5,000 to N100 million.

Presenting the cheque to the winner in Port Harcourt, Unity Bank’s Regional Manager for Port Harcourt/Uyo Region, Mr. Etop Ikpe, congratulated the winner and reiterated the Bank’s commitment to building a sustainable loyalty platform for customer engagement and satisfaction.

He said, “We are happy to see another one of our loyal customers win a substantial cash prize through the Unity Bank and CashToken Rewards Promo. This initiative aligns with our mission to reward customer loyalty while providing a seamless and rewarding banking experience. As we continue to innovate and enhance our digital banking platforms, we are committed to creating more opportunities for our customers to benefit from their relationship with Unity Bank.”

In his reaction, an elated Mr. Amadi said, “This is a reward for my steadfastness. I have been banking with Unity Bank for a long time and I am really happy to win the cash prize. I commend the bank for the initiative and Unity Bank has always come through in keeping their promises both in terms of service delivery and meeting expectations of customers.”

Also commenting on the development, Simi Adeoye, Chief Business Development Officer for CashToken Rewards Africa, added: “We are proud to partner with Unity Bank in bringing life-changing opportunities to their customers through our Cash-Reward-as-a-Service model. We aim to make every transaction meaningful by turning regular banking activities into chances for customers to win significant rewards. We congratulate Mr. Amadi on his win, and we look forward to creating more millionaires as the promo continues. Mr. Amadi just like other beneficiaries can easily cash out his win by dialling *6700#, following the prompt and transferring his wins directly to his Unity Bank account.”

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Banking Sector

Zenith Bank Enhances E-Channel Services for Customers

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Zenith Bank - Investors King

Zenith Bank, one of Nigeria’s leading financial institutions, has restored improved services across its electronic transaction channels, ensuring customers have seamless access to banking services.

In a statement released on Thursday via its X handle, the bank confirmed that customers can now conveniently conduct transactions across various platforms following a recent upgrade. These enhancements follow temporary glitches caused by routine IT maintenance aimed at optimizing service delivery.

Zenith Bank reiterated its commitment to providing improved services and highlighted the various channels available for customer transactions, including:

– Zenith Bank Debit, Credit, and Prepaid Cards
– Automated Teller Machines (ATMs)
– Point of Sale (POS) Terminals
– Zenith Bank Mobile App
– Internet Banking Platform
– Zenith Agents nationwide for agent banking

Customers are also encouraged to visit any of the bank’s branches across the country for in-person transactions.

Zenith Bank reassured further improvements in service delivery following the IT infrastructure upgrade. Customers with bulk payments and salary requests are encouraged to present payment mandates at any Zenith Bank branch nationwide for expedited processing.

Zenith Bank remains dedicated to enhancing customer experience and ensuring reliable banking services across all platforms.

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