Washington, Oct. 2, 2025 – The US federal government might be shut down, but President Trump is making every effort not to let that slow down his economic agenda. The president’s economic priorities that aren’t directly related to the stoppage won’t be interrupted, as administration-authored shutdown contingency plans allow for tariff rollouts to continue and a $20 billion bailout for Argentina to remain intact. The White House also appears set to use the funding shortfall as an opportunity to expand Trump’s imprint, with the president promising to use expanded …
How US government shutdown could affect financial markets
Washington, Sept. 25, 2025 – The risk of a partial U.S. government shutdown beginning next week is rising as congressional Democrats and Republicans hit an impasse over how to continue to fund the federal government. A shutdown could affect financial markets by limiting the operations of financial regulators and delaying the publication of key economic data. How might markets react? Historically, markets have tended to shrug off shutdowns. However, this time could be different. A prolonged shutdown risks delaying or canceling key economic data releases investors use to assess …
Trump’s new visa fees spur offshoring talks, hiring turmoil
New York, Sept 24, 2025 – The Trump administration’s hefty new visa fees for H-1B workers have prompted high-level talks inside companies in Silicon Valley and beyond on the possibility of moving more jobs overseas – precisely the outcome the policy was meant to stop. U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday announced the change to the visa program that has long been a recruitment pathway for tech firms and encouraged international students to pursue postgraduate courses in the U.S. While the $100,000 levy applies only to new applicants – …
AfCFTA digital trade protocol hailed as game changer for intra-African trade
Lagos, Sept. 22, 2025 – Experts have praised the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol as a game changer that has created a legal framework and basis to drive and shape the future of digital trading to accelerate Intra-Africa trading. “We’ve seen this over the last few years as a task force looking at the digital trade protocols of the AfCFTA. It is a game changer, and it is very important for my bank to participate in its implementation.” Says Mr. Emeka Onyia, Director in charge of Digital Trade at Afreximbank. Speaking …
London, Sept. 11, 2025 – Rachel Reeves admitted the UK economy ‘feels stuck’ today as she vowed to ease business rates pain for small firms. The Chancellor insisted getting growth going is her ‘number one mission’ and promised ‘tax reforms’ as she announced the overhaul. The Treasury is looking at changes to the current system of tax on business properties as part of efforts to cut red tape. It will focus on getting rid of ‘cliff edges’ that can discourage expansion and investment – potentially benefiting some of the firms …
US inflation ticks up in August, complicating Fed’s rate cut path
Washington, Sept, 11, 2025 – Inflation edged higher in August, government data showed Thursday, as investors looked for signs of how much President Trump’s tariffs are filtering into consumer prices and what that means for how aggressively the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates. The latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 2.9% annually in August, s rise from July’s 2.7 % increase and on par with economist expectations. Month over month, prices rose 0.4%, an uptick from July’s 0.2% …
Transactions dip as NGX moves 3,117bn shares last week
Lagos, Sept. 8, 2025 – Volume of transactions dipped on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) last week as N3.117 billion shares worth N90.295 billion were traded in 118,018 deals. This was in contrast to the 3.199 billion shares valued at N85.399 billion that exchanged hands in 142,477 deals in the preceding week. The Financial Services Industry, measured by volume, led the activity chart last week with 2.542 billion shares valued at N30.357 billion traded in 52,390 deals. The industry contributed 81.55% and 33.62% to the total equity turnover volume and value, …
Tinubu assures Colombia of swift implementation of bilateral agreements
Abuja, Sept. 2, 2025 – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening international partnerships and aligning its foreign relations with evolving global trends in trade, politics, and culture. The President made the pledge on Monday while received the Vice President of the Republic of Colombia, Francia Márquez, at the State House in Abuja. He said the global economic volatility and shifting international policies would necessitate new partners for shared prosperity. Tinubu assured the delegation of senior government, business, and diplomatic officials from the South American country that …
Tinubu commends achievements of capital market, hosts NGX Board, SEC DG in Brasil
Lagos, Aug, 27, 2025 – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended Nigeria’s capital market’s remarkable growth since he assumed office over two years ago. He noted the phenomenal rise in market capitalisation and increased trading activity, which have broadened investment opportunities for Nigerians and international investors. According to a statement by Bayo Onanuga, a Presidential Spokesman, President Tinubu spoke on Tuesday during his state visit to Brazil, when he received the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Board of Directors of the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc. …
Asian stocks down after Trump Fed firing, tariff threats
Beijing, ug. 26, 2025 – Asian stocks retreated Tuesday after a series of market-rattling announcements by US President Donald Trump, including the unusual firing of a central bank official and threats to impose export controls on microchips. Traders had been riding a wave of confidence since Friday’s speech by US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, which suggested coming interest rate cuts in the world’s largest economy. But the upward flurry appeared to die out Monday on Wall Street as attention turned back to this week’s earnings report from AI chip …