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Trump's Critique of Powell Shakes Financial Markets

In a fiery return to his trademark critique of U.S. monetary policy, former President Donald Trump launched a scathing attack on Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, calling him “Mr. Too Late” and a “major loser,” while suggesting that Powell’s dismissal “can’t come soon enough.” The comments have sent shockwaves through global financial markets, raising alarms about the independence of the…

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Harvard vs. Trump Administration

Harvard University has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration in a Massachusetts federal court. The prestigious institution accuses the administration of attempting to weaponize federal funding to interfere in its academic independence—particularly in areas like admissions, hiring, and political viewpoints. Legal Basis of the Lawsuit Harvard argues that: The administration’s threats…

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Expected Price Hikes from Major Retailers Amid Tariff Changes

American consumers are bracing for higher prices as major retailers and e-commerce platforms prepare to adjust to sweeping new tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump. Earlier this month, Trump announced a 10% tariff on nearly all imported goods, with only a few exceptions, such as semiconductors and pharmaceuticals. These tariffs add to existing levies on steel, aluminum, and…

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Liverpool, Arsenal Through — But What Will the EPL Top Six Look Like?

It keeps getting more interesting at the top of the English Premier League (EPL). With just a few matchdays to go, five teams are gunning for the remaining three European spots — and every fixture now feels like a final. The top two spots appear to be all but sealed. Arsenal and Liverpool have broken away from the chasing pack. However, Mikel Arteta’s title dreams might be fading fast after…

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Breaking: Pope Francis Dies at 88 – Vatican

Pope Francis passed away on Monday at the age of 88, just a day after making a much-anticipated appearance at Saint Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday, the Vatican announced.“This morning, at 7:35 am (0535 GMT), the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father,” said Cardinal Kevin Farrell in a statement published on the Vatican’s official Telegram channel.

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UPDC reports N1.309 billion pre-tax profit in 2024, up 244.51% as property sales drive profit 

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First Holdco reports N781.88 billion pre-tax profit in 2024, up 124.77% YoY 

First Holdco Plc has released its audited financial results for the year ended December 31, 2024, reporting a pre-tax profit of N781.88 billion, representing a 124.77% year-on-year increase compared to N347.87 billion recorded in 2023. Profit after tax also saw significant growth, rising by 115.12% to N663.490 billion, while Gross Earnings surged by 105.71% year-on-year, hitting N3.212…

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N1 million investment in Nigeria penny stocks: A smart gamble for retail investors 

As of Q1 2025, some stocks delivered eye-catching returns, especially for investors who took a chance on penny stocks. Over 16 of these low-priced names recorded double-digit gains, with some more than doubling in just three months. A N1 million invested at the beginning of the year in some cases yielded over N1 million return. However, it is important to note that as well, some investors lost…

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Access Holdings reports N867.019 billion profit before tax for FY 2024

Access Holdings Plc has released its 2024 full-year audited accounts, reporting a pre-tax profit of N867.019 billion, up from N729.001 billion a year earlier. The bank holding company also reported a surge in gross earnings, rising to N4.878 trillion from N2.594 trillion reported a year earlier.Cursory Analysis  Access Holdings ended 2024 with a strong financial performance, largely powered by…

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Double-digit yield: Top Banking stocks to consider for the rest of 2025 

With several Nigerian-listed companies having released their 2024 full-year results and declared final dividends, an analysis by Nairametrics highlights stocks offering double-digit dividend yields based on the total dividends declared for the 2024 financial year. Whether as a short-term “dividend trapper” aiming to capitalize on quick payouts or a long-term income investor seeking steady…

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Dangote, MTN, BUA, Nestlé Nigeria, Seplat , others incur N1.42 trillion in interest expenses in 2024, up 146%

Nigerian companies faced financial pressure in 2024 as surging interest expenses, driven by the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) sustained monetary tightening, squeezed their bottom lines. The apex bank’s aggressive hike of the benchmark interest rate, intended to tame inflation and ensure positive real returns, has had a pronounced effect on the cost of borrowing for the private sector. An…

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Double-digit yield: Top Banking stocks to consider for the rest of 2025 

Double-digit yield: Top Banking stocks to consider for the rest of 2025  As the Nigerian market continues to navigate through uncertainties, one strategy that is worth considering is investing in dividend-paying stocks. They offer investors a reliable way to earn a passive income while navigating market volatility. Echoing this, experts during a recent episode of “Drinks and Mics“ titled “How…

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Access Holdings reports N867.019 billion profit before tax for FY 2024.

Access Holdings Plc has released its 2024 full-year audited accounts, reporting a pre-tax profit of N867.019 billion, up from N729.001 billion a year earlier. The bank holding company also reported a surge in gross earnings, rising to N4.878 trillion from N2.594 trillion reported a year earlier. The group has proposed a final dividend of N2.05 per ordinary share on its 53,317,838,433 issued…

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NGX Lotus Islamic Index emerges as best-performing index in Q1 2025 with a gain of 8.56% 

The NGX Lotus Islamic Index recorded 8.56% increase, emerging as the best-performing index for Q1 2025, outperforming the NGX All-Share Index (ASI), which gained 2.66%. In Q1 2024, the index had a remarkable 37.19% growth and eventually closed the year with a 50.56% year-to-date (YtD) growth. The average YtD return of these stocks stands at 14.82%, with NASCON leading the pack with a YtD gain…

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Cadbury Nigeria: A bitter year with a sweet aftertaste

If you are a shareholder in Cadbury Nigeria Plc, 2024 felt like watching a rollercoaster that only started climbing in the last few seconds.   What started as a year of heavy losses, sharp cost spikes, and currency chaos ended with a surprise Q4 profit, a dramatic corporate restructuring, and a glimmer of hope for recovery.  Valuation: Is the comeback baked in?  At N23.00 per share, Cadbury…

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BREAKING NEWS: FirstBank Announces Scheduled System Maintenance for Sunday, April 13, 2025

FirstBank has announced a planned system maintenance set to take place on Sunday, April 13, 2025, from 12:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. WAT. During this period, the following services will be temporarily unavailable: All FirstBank card transactions on ATMs, POS terminals, and web platforms FirstMonie (Agency Banking) POS terminals New user enrollment on FirstMobile and USSD platforms Services that…

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Windfall tax takes centerstage as seven Banks incur N819.95 billion in income tax expense in 2024 

In 2024, seven Nigerian banks; FCMB, Fidelity, GTCO, Stanbic IBTC, UBA, Wema Bank, and Zenith Bank incurred a combined income tax expense of N819.95 billion, representing a 94.96% increase from the N413.73 billion reported in 2022. A significant portion of this spike, amounting to N223.27 billion or 27.23% of the total, is attributable to windfall taxes arising from the newly enacted Windfall…