29 December 2011, Sweetcrude, Lagos – Local and international financial market update.
· INDIA: India’s food inflation rate fell to the lowest level in at least five and a half years, increasing the scope for the central bank to cut interest rates after it halted a record pace of monetary tightening. The Reserve Bank of India refrained from raising rates this month for the first time in eight meetings as inflation eases and the fallout from Europe’s debt crisis threatens growth in Asia’s third-largest economy.
· CHINA: China stocks rose for a second day, with the benchmark index capping its first back-to-back advance in a month, as investors speculated declines were overdone. Market players are of the opinion that low valuations and anticipation of policy easing have enticed some buying interest.
· EURO: The euro weakened to a decade low against the yen and bond risk rose on concern Europe’s debt crisis will slow the global economy. The 17-nation euro weakened as much as 0.5 percent versus the yen before trading at 100.50 yen as of Wednesday night in Tokyo
Economic / Central Bank News
· A report by Oxford Business Group (OBG) has revealed that China accounts for roughly 25% of Nigeria’s inbound Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), equivalent to roughly $6.1b (N988.2b). Also, recent data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), showed that China was the country’s second largest source of imports for the first six months of 2011.About N737b ($4.57 b) of goods entered Nigeria from the Asian giant during the first two quarters of the year, equivalent to about 11% of total imports.
· Bonds – Quiet trading day. Activity is expected to continue to be muted until the New Year.
· Bills – Quiet trading day. Activity is expected to continue to be muted until the New Year. OMO offering of N100billion in 36 day bills but the CBN refused to sell citing the high range of bids received as their reason. We are still awaiting the results of the primary auction held today
· Money Market – OBB & unsecured O/N 13.50% & 14.00% respectively. ”
FX
Hi Low Close Prev.Close
USD/NGN 164.25/35 162.10/20 162.95/05 162.00/10
NIBOR(%) LIBOR (%)
O/N 14.3333 USD 1 month 0.2963
7 Day 15.1250 USD 2 month 0.4252
30 Day 15.7500 USD 3 month 0.5793
60 Day 16.0833 USD 6 month 0.8080
90 Day 16.3750 USD 12 month 1.1269
Y/Y Consumer Inflation Oct 2011 : 10.50%
FX Reserves: 15 December 2011 (USD bn) 33.152
MPR 12.00%
Source: FMD and CBN
