Currencies
Naira strengthens at NAFEX window despite 38% drop in dollar supply
At the black market where forex traded unofficially, the exchange rate continued to remain stable at N470/$1 on Thursday.
On January 7, 2020, the exchange rate between the naira and dollar closed at N393.67/$1, the fourth trading day of 2021 at the Investors and Exporters’ (NAFEX) window where forex is traded officially.
This is an appreciation from the N394.50 recorded on the previous trading day, January 6, 2021.
Nairametrics understands that the drop in dollar supply could not prevent price decline on Thursday after the fall recorded in the last 2 trading days.
READ: Naira stabilizes at black market as external reserve rises by $515 million in 12 days
We also reported last week that the latest round of adjustment at the I&E window is temporary as the rates could fall back below N400/$1.
However, at the black market where forex traded unofficially, the exchange rate continued to remain stable at N470/$1 on Thursday, January 7, 2021. The exchange rate at the parallel market closed at N470/$1 on the previous trading day January 6, 2021. It has been trading at N470/$1 since the 29th of December 2020.
The exchange rate disparity between the parallel market and the official market widened again to N76.33, representing a 16% devaluation differential.
READ: Ethereum investors have gained 51% in 2021 alone
NAFEX
The Naira depreciated against the dollar at the Investors and Exporters (I&E) window on Thursday, closing at N393.67/$1 as against N394.50 reported on January 6, 2021.
- This represents an 83 kobo drop when compared with that of the previous trading day.
- The opening indicative rate was N393.69 to a dollar on Thursday. This represents a N2.61 gain when compared to the N396.30 that was recorded on Thursday, January 7, 2021.
- The N413.85 to a dollar was the highest rate during intra-day trading before, it still closed at N393.67 to a dollar. It also sold for as low as N385/$1 during intra-day trading.
- Forex turnover: Forex turnover at the Investor and Exporters (I&E) window declined by 38.3% on Wednesday, January 6, 2021.
- According to the data tracked by Nairametrics from FMDQ, forex turnover dropped from $52.50 million on Wednesday, January 6, 2021, to $32.41 million on Thursday, January 7, 2021.
- The average daily forex sale for last week was about $169.93 million, which represents a huge increase from the $34.5 million that was recorded the previous week.
- The exchange rate is still being affected by low oil prices, dollar scarcity, a backlog of forex demand, and a shaky economy that has been hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
READ: OPEC cites vaccine as most important factor for oil in 2021 as Nigeria pushes for cuts
Can the naira sustain below N400?
Last Thursday, December 31, 2020, the central bank allowed the exchange rate to depreciate to N410.25 as a late demand surge forced prices higher.
Even though the highest price for the day was N413.85, the market still closed lower at N393.67 as the trend from the previous trading day continued, blowing any initial belief that a devaluation had occurred last week.
READ: Vitafoam Nigeria proposes N875.59 million dividend to be distributed to shareholders
Devaluation supporters who had expected this to be a nudge towards “market reality” will be surprised by the appreciation recorded on Monday, suggesting that the central bank will continue with the defence of the local currency in the new year. On the flip side, policy supporters will cite this as the effect of market forces.
Currencies
Naira falls at NAFEX window as Bitcoin rises above $63,000, an all-time record high
Naira depreciated against the US Dollar at the NAFEX window on Tuesday to close at N411/$1.
Tuesday,13th April 2021: The exchange rate between Naira and the US Dollar closed at N411/1$ in the Importers and Exporters window, where forex is traded officially.
Naira depreciated against the US Dollar at the NAFEX window on Tuesday to close at N411/$1. This represents a 0.31% drop when compared to N409.75/$1 recorded on Monday, as the world’s largest cryptocurrency, Bitcoin hits an all-time high rising above $63,000.
Meanwhile, the naira remained stable against the dollar at the parallel market on Tuesday, 13th April 2021 to close at N482 to a dollar, the same rate that was recorded on Monday, April 12, 2021.
READ: Naira gains at NAFEX window despite 26.2% drop in dollar supply
Trading at the official NAFEX window
Naira depreciated against the US Dollar at the Investors and Exporters window on Tuesday to close at N411 to a dollar. This represents a N1.25 drop when compared to N409.75/$1 recorded on Monday, 12th April 2021.
- The opening indicative rate closed at N409.58 to a dollar on Tuesday. This represents a N1.30 gain when compared to N410.88/$1 recorded on Monday.
- Also, an exchange rate of N436.81 to a dollar was the highest rate recorded during intra-day trading before it closed at N411/$1. It also sold for as low as N400/$1 during intra-day trading.
- Forex turnover at the Investor and Exporters (I&E) window rose by 18.04% on Tuesday, 13th April 2021.
- A cursory look at the data tracked by Nairametrics from FMDQ showed that forex turnover increased from $45.35 million recorded on Monday, April 12, 2021, to $53.53 million on Tuesday, April 13, 2021.
READ: Exchange rate weakens as external reserve records first growth in 36 days
Cryptocurrency watch
The world’s most popular digital currency, bitcoin, hit an all-time high above the $63,000 mark, extending its 2021 rally to new heights a day before Coinbase’s share listing in the United States.
- Bitcoin closed at $63, 625.50 with several analysts feeling bullish, with price targets at $70,000 or higher by next month.
- Risks remain, as some analysts choose to wait for confirmation of the breakout in price charts, especially as bullish positioning reaches extreme levels in the futures market.
- The world’s biggest cryptocurrency, which has growing mainstream acceptance as an investment and a means of payment, rose by over 5% on Tuesday. Smaller rival Ethereum also reached a record high of $2,336.75.
- Major firms including BNY Mellon, Mastercard Inc and Tesla Inc are among those to have embraced or invested in cryptocurrencies.
- The digital currency has been widely adopted by many, replacing gold as the global digital-reserve asset.
- Meanwhile, exchange tokens, such as Binance Coin, are seeing their value rise ahead of Coinbase’s public debut as well. Binance Coin, known as BNB, rose 23% on Monday, according to CoinMarketCap.com. Huobi Token and KuCoin Token, among others, also gained.
Oil price gain
Brent crude oil price rose on Tuesday as it closed at $64.08 per barrel, indicating a 1.68% increase compared to $63.02 recorded at the close of trade on Monday on signs of US inventory drawdown.
- Oil extended gains in Asian trading after an industry report pointed to another decline in US crude stockpiles that followed an upbeat assessment of the demand outlook from OPEC.
- The American Petroleum Institute (API) on Tuesday reported a draw in crude oil inventories of 3.608 million barrels for the week ending April 9. Analysts had predicted a draw of 2.889 million barrels for the week.
- OPEC boosted its consumption forecast for this year and predicted the market recovery will continue.
- The latest data from the Energy Information Administration says that while inventories of crude oil are falling, U.S. oil production slipped from 11 million BPD to 10.9 million BPD during the week ending April 2.
- Brent Crude closed at $64.08 (+0.64%), WTI Crude closed at $60.62 indicating 0.73% gain, Bonny Light, $62.56 (+0.58%), OPEC Basket (+0.52%) to close at $61.46 while Natural gas rose by 0.23% to close at $2,625
External reserve
Nigeria’s external reserve gained $102 million on Monday, 12th April 2021 to close at $35.138 billion, being the highest external reserve position recorded in over a month.
- This indicates a 0.29% increase when compared to $35.036 billion recorded on Friday, 9th April 2021.
- It also represents an increase in the country’s external reserve position for the 15th consecutive day, having endured a significant downturn earlier in the year. Nigeria’s reserve has added a total of about $722 million in 15 days.
- This recent increase in Nigeria’s external reserve could however be attributed to the increase in crude oil prices recorded earlier in March before the recent bearish trade in the crude market.
- It could be attributed to the possible increase in diaspora remittance as the CBN offers incentives for every unit of a dollar received in Nigeria from diaspora remittance.
- The external reserve is likely to get a further boost, as the Federal Government recently announced plans to issue $500 million Eurobonds for 2021.
Currencies
Naira gains at black market as external reserves increases by $620 million in 2 weeks
The opening indicative rate closed at N410.88 to a dollar on Monday.
Monday,12th April 2021: The naira appreciated against the dollar at the parallel market on Monday, 12th April 2021 to close at N482 to a dollar. This represents a N3 gain when compared to the N485/$1 that was recorded on Friday, April 9, 2021.
Meanwhile, the exchange rate between Naira and the US Dollar closed at N409.75/1$ in the Importers and Exporters window, where forex is traded officially.
Naira depreciated against the US Dollar at the NAFEX window on Monday to close at N409.75/$1. This represents a 0.18% drop when compared to N409/$1 recorded on Friday, as the country’s external reserve increased by $620 million in 2 weeks.
READ: Naira strengthens at NAFEX window as bitcoin slumps to $52k
Trading at the official NAFEX window
Naira depreciated against the US Dollar at the Investors and Exporters window on Monday to close at N409.75 to a dollar. This represents a 75 kobo drop when compared to N409/$1 recorded on Friday, 9th April 2021.
- The opening indicative rate closed at N410.88 to a dollar on Monday. This represents a N1.09 drop when compared to N409.79/$1 recorded on Friday.
- Also, an exchange rate of N420 to a dollar was the highest rate recorded during intra-day trading before it closed at N409.75/$1. It also sold for as low as N400/$1 during intra-day trading.
- Forex turnover at the Investor and Exporters (I&E) window dropped by 17.9% on Monday, 12th April 2021.
- A cursory look at the data tracked by Nairametrics from FMDQ showed that forex turnover declined from $55.21 million recorded on Friday, April 9, 2021, to $45.35 million on Monday, April 12, 2021.
READ: Naira appreciates at NAFEX as Nigeria’s external reserve is set to get a boost
Cryptocurrency watch
The world’s most popular digital currency, bitcoin, rose by as much as 2.6% to $61,229 on Monday, nearing an all-time high as bullish sentiment gathered steam ahead of listing by the largest US cryptocurrency exchange.
- The cryptocurrency is up almost nine times in the past year, a return that towers above that of more familiar assets like equities or bullion.
- Against the backdrop of Wall Street’s growing embrace of crypto, the direct listing of digital-token exchange Coinbase Global Inc. is generating a lot of interest.
- Coinbase is moving towards a $100 billion valuation as it is due to go public on the Nasdaq on April 14, the first listing of its kind for a major cryptocurrency company and a test of investor appetite for other start-ups in the sector.
- The digital currency has been widely adopted by many, replacing gold as the global digital-reserve asset.
- Meanwhile, exchange tokens, such as Binance Coin, are seeing their value rise ahead of Coinbase’s public debut as well. Binance Coin, known as BNB, rose 23% on Monday, according to CoinMarketCap.com. Huobi Token and KuCoin Token, among others, also gained.
READ: Best performing mining, industrial and consumer goods stocks from last week
Oil price gain
Brent crude oil price rose on Monday evening as it closed at $63.34 per barrel, indicating a 0.51% increase compared to $63.02 recorded at the close of trade on Sunday on expectations of strong economic recovery.
- Oil prices recorded an increase early on Monday, with WTI Crude topping $60 a barrel for the first time in a week after the Federal Reserve Chairman, Jerome Powell, said that the outlook on the U.S. economy had brightened substantially.
- A weaker U.S. dollar also added to investors’ appetite for crude, while another claim from the Yemeni rebel group, the Houthis that they had targeted oil facilities of Aramco in Saudi Arabia further supported prices.
- Saxo Bank analysts said that the prospect for stronger economic growth helped to offset the impact of a resurgent coronavirus just as OPEC+ prepares to ease production cuts.
- Brent Crude closed at $63.34 (+0.09%), WTI Crude closed at $59.75 indicating 0.08% gain, Bonny Light, $62.20 (+1.06%), OPEC Basket (-0.13%) to close at $61.14 while Natural gas dropped by 0.27% to close at $2.554.
External reserve
Nigeria’s external reserve gained $30 million on Friday, 9th April 2021 to close at $35.036 billion, being the highest external reserve position recorded in over a month.
- This indicates a 0.09% increase when compared to $35.006 billion recorded on Thursday, 8th April 2021.
- It also represents an increase in the country’s external reserve position for the 14th consecutive day, having endured a significant downturn earlier in the year. Nigeria’s reserve has added a total of about $620 million in 14 days.
- This recent increase in Nigeria’s external reserve could however be attributed to the increase in crude oil prices recorded earlier in March before the recent bearish trade in the crude market.
- It could be attributed to the possible increase in diaspora remittance as the CBN offers incentives for every unit of a dollar received in Nigeria from diaspora remittance.
- The external reserve is likely to get a further boost, as the Federal Government recently announced plans to issue $500 million Eurobonds for 2021.
