HEAVY transactions recorded last week on the shares of Zenith International Bank Plc, Champion Breweries Plc and Diamond Bank Plc drove the volume traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE.

Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc has announced the appointment of Yinka Sanni as its Chief Executive. Dr. Demola Sogunle has also been named Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc. Sanni takes over from Sola David-Borha, who has been appointed Chief Executive, Rest of Africa, Standard Bank Group.

THERE is a need for microfinance institutions to spearhead the drive for financial literacy and inclusion in the country so as to harness the untapped potential of individuals and businesses currently excluded from the formal financial sector, enabling them develop their capacity to engage in income generating activities.

AN expert has said that employing scientific models in investigating occurrences is key and useful in making safety recommendations intended to prevent accident, thereby securing investment and resources.

Ghana’s insurance market value will reach US$600 million in 2018, from $400million in 2014, based on a projected annual growth rate of 8.5 per cent, the 2017 edition of the Oxford Business Group Report has shown.

FRANCOIS Villeroy de Galhau, governor of France’s central bank, is calling insurance companies in the country to significantly step up their cyber risk coverage for clients.

THE International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has collaborated with Insurance for Journalists to launch a scheme of flexible, low-cost protection plans for freelance reporters and media personnel who struggle to find insurance when reporting at home or abroad.

This is because recession provides ample opportunity for the microfinance industry to grow their income and expand their scope. Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Ospoly Microfinance Bank, Mr. Femi Fapohunda, said these in a chat, stating: “The Microfinance sub sector are creative and want to change the turn of event, to do this, they must tap into the opportunities in the recession.

What is Ultisure? We took the brave decision about seven years ago to start gathering a team of very smart Nigerians to start developing applications. After seven years of development and research, we have a lot of products that are ready for the market. One of them is the Ultisure. Ultisure bridges a lot of gap in the insurance industry. Our intention is to make our customers happy and for them to leverage on our solutions to automate their businesses to make more money, better decisions and more profit at the end of the day.

Still crystal gazing on 2017 at the backdrop of bearish stock sentiments in the first three weeks of trading, investment analysts are yet to be conclusive on the outlook for the current year.

The Small and Medium Enterprises, SMEs, are not attracted to list on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE for a number of reasons. Firstly, many of them do not have adequate capital base and structure that will attract investors to invest in them. Secondly, many of the SMEs are struggling with the economic recession and harsh operating environment which had made it difficult for them to breakeven let alone declaring profit.

Two weeks ago, the federal government sacked the Executive Secretary of Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, FRC, Mr. Jim Obazee, and the entire Council’s Board over issues associated with the FRC’s new Code of Corporate Governance, now suspended.

The drop in Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) is closely linked to foreign investors perception of our policy response to dwindling oil revenues in the last two years (caused both by falling price of the product as well as reduced production). Areas of concern for foreign portfolio investors range from our foreign exchange policy and its implementation as it affects ease of exit, the state of our foreign reserves and general sense of our willingness to deal pragmatically with our changing fortunes.

The Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC has set up a committee to fix the deadline for account consolidation by investors who have multiple accounts which were part of the reasons why unclaimed dividend had risen to over N80 billion.

By Peter Egwuatu The National Co-ordinator, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria, ISAN, Mr. Adeniyi A Adebisi in this interview with Financial Vanguard spoke on some policies affecting the growth of the Nigerian capital market and also proffered some solutions. Excerpts: What are some of the government policies that affect investment negatively in the capital market? […]