CAPITALDIGEST DAILY NEWS, 26 JULY 2021

MONDAY 19/7/2021 – FG PLANS N12.3BN SUBSIDY FOR TWO MILLION FARMERS Over 2.2 million farmers are to receive about N12.3bn as agricultural subsidy from the Federal Government in coming weeks, it was gathered on Sunday. Presidency officials confirmed that the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), had already approved a N6.15bn agricultural subsidy for the first batch of 1.2 million farmers. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agriculture, Andrew Kwasari, told our correspondent that the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System had validated the first batch of beneficiaries. He said the 1.2 farmers would start getting their alerts soon, adding that another batch of over one million beneficiaries would also receive about N6.15bn agricultural subsidy. Kwasari said, “The President has approved subsidies for 1.2 million farmers in Batch A and the NIBSS has validated their bank accounts and BVN (Bank Verification Numbers) as farmers. “We have another batch of over one million and NIPSS has also validated their details and it will be sent to Mr President for approval. “NIBSS validates every BVN tied to any account and can tell you the owner of such accounts in this country.” When asked the total amount of subsidy to be given to farmers, he stated that the funds would come in batches of about N6.15bn each. He further noted that the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the NIBSS had received the details of those to benefit from the subsidy scheme. Kwasari said, “The first batch is N6.15bn and we are preparing Batch B and it may be up to that amount also. “The file has moved from my office right now and it is with the Accountant-General of the Federation and NIBSS for payment.” Kwasari further insisted that the Federal Government had captured over six million farmers across the country, stressing that the data of these operators were in his office. “We’ve captured over six million and very soon, we will be giving direct subsidies to these registered farmers,” he stated.   TUESDAY 20/7/2021 – STOCK TRADING VOLUME JUMPS 189% AS 22 FIRMS GAIN Twenty-two firms listed on the Nigeria Exchange Limited saw their share prices increase on Monday, with trading volume rising by 189.27 per cent. Investors in the equities market gained N3bn as the market capitalisation rose to N19.77tn while the NGX All-Share Index increased by 0.01 per cent to 37,952.65 basis points. The NGX Premium Index lost 0.68 basis points, reflecting losses from all Tier-1 banks listed on the Index. Eterna Plc led the gainers’ chart with a 10.00 per cent increase in its share price, closing at N7.15. It was followed closely by University Press Plc, which rose by 9.93 per cent to close at N1.55 per share. Cutix Plc, Regency Alliance Insurance Plc and Learn Africa Plc were also on the list of the top five gainers as they gained 9.92 per cent, 8.89 per cent, and 7.76 per cent respectively. Ten firms recorded losses at the end of trading on the floor of the NGX. FTN Cocoa Processors Plc recorded the biggest loss as its share price fell by 7.32 per cent to close at N0.38. Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc dropped by 6.06 per cent to close at N0.31 per share. The other top losers were Ecobank Transnational Corporation (-3.77 per cent), Sterling Bank Plc (-3.21 per cent) and Union Bank Nigeria Plc. Trading volumes on Monday shot up by 189.27 per cent to 462.81 million shares worth N1.20bn exchanged in 3,610 deals from 159.99 million shares valued at N927.86m traded in 3,038 deals on Friday.   WEDNESDAY 21/7/2021 – NAIRA LOSES AT OFFICIAL MARKET The naira fell against the U.S. dollar at the official market on Tuesday, after it gained slightly in the previous session of the market segment on Monday. The currency remained unchanged at the black market window for two consecutive sessions on a stretch. Data posted on the FMDQ Security Exchange where forex is officially traded showed that the local unit closed at N411.75 per $1 at the official window on Tuesday. This represents a N0.25 or 0.10 per cent from N411.50 rate it exchanged hands with the greenback currency in the previous session on Monday. The last time the currency closed at N411.75 on the dot was on Friday last week. The touched an intraday low of N412.50 and oscillated to a high of N400.00 before closing at N411.75 as of the close of business on Tuesday. The market session forex turnover dipped by 34.05 per cent, with $116.15 million recorded at the end of the market session as against the $176.13 million posted in the previous session on Monday. However, the currency again maintained stability against the U.S dollar at the parallel market on Tuesday. Data posted on abokiFX.com, a website that collates parallel market rates in Lagos showed that the naira closed at N505.00 per $1 at the black-market window. The spread between the black market and the official rates stood at N93.25, this translates to 18.50 per cent as of the close of business on Tuesday.   THURSDAY 22/7/2021 – FG’S JULY BONDS OVERSUBSCRIBED BY N136.11BN The Federal Government’s bonds worth N150bn for July which were auctioned on Tuesday were oversubscribed by N136.11bn, the Debt Management Office has said. The total subscription received from investors for the bonds was N286.11bn, comprising of N56.41bn for 13.98 per cent FGN February 2028 bonds, N73.44bn for 12.4 per cent FGN March 2036 bonds, and N156.26bn for 12.98 per cent FGN March 2050 bonds. The auction result showed that out of 57, 119 and 156 total bids for the tenures, 19, 77 and 59 were successful. A total of N138.07bn was allotted, comprising of N31.71bn, N51.16bn and N55.2bn respectively. The DMO said, “Successful bids for the 13.98 per cent FGN February 2028, 12.4 per cent FGN March 2036 & 12.98 per cent FGN March 2050 were allotted at the marginal rates of 12.35 per cent, 13.15 per cent and 13.25 per cent respectively. “However, the original coupon rates of 13.98 per cent for the 13.98 per cent FGN February 2028, 12.4 per cent for the 12.4 per cent FGN March 2036 and 12.98 per cent for the 12.98 per cent FGN March 2050 will be maintained.” It had earlier disclosed that the Federal Government’s bonds worth N150bn for June were oversubscribed by N267.48bn. The total subscriptions received from investors for the June bonds was N417.48bn, comprising N66.21bn for 16.2884 per cent FGN March 2027 bonds; N127.45bn for 12.5 per cent FGN March 2035 bonds; and N223.82bn for 12.98 per cent FGN March 2050 bonds.     FRIDAY 23/7/2021 – CBN TARGETS OCTOBER FOR DIGITAL CURRENCY LAUNCH The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday disclosed that its much-anticipated digital currency will be launched on October 1. CBN Director, IT Department, Mrs. Rakiya Mohammed, revealed this during a private webinar, explaining that the banking sector regulator had been conducting research towards the launch of digital currencies since 2017. She added that the central bank may conduct a proof of concept before the end of the year. The move to adopt the electronic currency was first disclosed by the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, during the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) in May. He had said a digital currency will soon become a reality in the country, adding that the central bank had already set up its committee which was working on the concept. The CBN governor had further restated the determination of the apex bank to drive the e-Naira project during the recent 306th Banker’s Committee meeting, pointing out that the process was ongoing. Mohammed was quoted by Nairametrics to have highlighted the benefits of the digital currency, saying it would enhance macroeconomic management, boost economic growth, facilitate cross border trade, boost financial inclusion and monetary policy effectiveness. Mohammed said the digital payment instrument would further improve payment efficiency, revenue tax collection, remittance improvement, and targeted social intervention. She added that the innovation would also benefit the fintech ecosystem by enhancing operational efficiency, opportunities for fintech start-ups in building services and products as well as financial inclusion that will contribute to economic growth, and the creation of a new system complimenting the traditional payment system. Mohammed had last month said the proposed digital would be launched before December. According to her, every Nigerian would have access to the digital currency. She had while briefing journalists at the end of a Bankers’ Committee meeting said: “Let me state categorically that cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin and the rest of them are not under the control of the central bank; they are purely private decisions that individuals make and are not part of this arrangement.