The United Bank for Africa (UBA Plc) has successfully exceeded the N500 billion minimum capital requirement set by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for banks with international licences, ahead of the March 31, 2026, deadline. According to UBA’s 2025 half-year audited results, the bank’s share capital and share premium stood at approximately N350 billion. …
Post-election protests have brought Douala, Cameroon's economic capital, to a near standstill. Shops remain shuttered, markets are empty, transport services are disrupted, and the rising cost of basic goods is squeezing households already struggling with high inflation. Economists estimate the city is losing over 10 billion CFA francs (about €15 million) daily due to business …
The Bank of England (BoE) has warned that global financial markets could face a sharp correction if investor confidence in artificial intelligence (AI) prospects or the independence of the U.S. Federal Reserve weakens. In its latest Financial Policy Committee (FPC) report, the BoE noted that U.S. stock valuations are nearing levels last seen during the …
Nigeria’s September 2025 bond auction has stunned the markets, recording an eye-watering 530% oversubscription and signalling renewed investor confidence in the country’s debt instruments. Foreign and local investors alike scrambled for a piece of the issuance, with demand reaching ₦1.26 trillion against an offer of just ₦200 billion. Analysts say this level of interest is …
By Esther Ososanya Global stock markets soared to unprecedented levels on Wednesday, buoyed by softer-than-expected U.S. inflation figures and mounting investor confidence that the U.S. Federal Reserve will deliver a much-anticipated interest rate cut in September. The MSCI All Country World Index, a benchmark tracking shares across 47 countries, climbed 0.4% to a record 951.74 …
By Esther Ososanya Dealmaking in the U.S. upstream oil and gas sector dropped sharply in Q2 2025. Investor caution increased as energy and equity markets turned volatile. Merger and acquisition (M&A) deals fell by 21%, totalling just $13.5 billion between April and June. This slump contrasts sharply with recent performance. In 2023, the sector recorded …
