Diamond Bank Plc said it has disbursed N25 billion to 7,000 Micro Small and Medium scale Enterprises, MSMEs, in the country within the last two years.

AS the December 2012 deadline given to banks to divest from all non banking activities by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) gradually draws near, shareholders of quoted insurance companies have called on regulatory bodies in the financial sector to protect their interests.

AS it has become obvious that operators in the insurance sector cannot regulate pricing of insurance risks following the failure of the market agreement, they should be ready to pay claims when the need arises irrespective of whatever premium they charged.

A SOUTH African firm, ABSA Capital, in partnership with Vetiva Capital Management Limited, is set to float a gold-backed Exchange Traded Fund, ETF, on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE.

BUOYED by unrelenting campaigns being championed by the Central Bank of Nigeria on the need for a cashless economy, First Bank of Nigeria Plc has introduced FirstPay, an alternative payment channel that saves time and money.

Nestle Nigeria Plc has further diversified its operations, with the introduction of health products- Nescafe ginger and lemon, into the market.

STANDARDS Organisation of Nigeria (SON) is set to certify a minimum of 150 SMEs in the country to the internationally acclaimed ISO 9001:2001 Quality Management System and ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System Standards within the next one year at no cost to them.

First City Monument Bank, FCMB, Plc has recorded a growth of 73 per cent in its Group’s Profit After Tax (PAT) for the un-audited nine months result ended September 30, 2011 released on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) .

SOME stakeholders have expressed optimism that the acquisition of Intercontinental Bank by Access Bank would reposition Access Bank and lead to improved earnings.

President Barack Obama restored privileged US trade partner status Tuesday to Ivory Coast, Niger and Guinea following democratic gains in the African countries, the White House said.