Business News of Saturday, 17 May 2025
Source: www.punchng.com
The Naira ended the trading week on a positive note, recording a bullish close on Friday at the official foreign exchange market.
It appreciated N1,598.72 against the U.S. Dollar, reflecting a modest gain that suggests continued efforts to stabilise the local currency.
According to figures published on the Central Bank of Nigeria’s official website, the Naira strengthened by N0.60k against the Dollar on Friday.
This upward movement represents a 0.03 per cent appreciation compared to the N1,599.32 exchange rate recorded at the close of trading on Thursday.
The local currency had shown some resilience earlier in the week, posting gains on both Tuesday and Wednesday trading sessions.
On Tuesday, the Naira appreciated by 0.02 per cent, followed by a stronger gain of 0.21 per cent on Wednesday.
These improvements were seen as positive indicators of growing investor confidence and increased supply in the foreign exchange market.
However, Thursday’s trading session saw a minor setback, with the Naira slipping by N2.62 against the Dollar.
This loss equated to a 0.16 per cent depreciation, dampening the midweek rally seen in previous sessions.
Market analysts attributed Thursday’s dip to a brief increase in Dollar demand from importers and other market participants.
Despite this, the week still closed on a positive note, with the Naira showing signs of gradual recovery and increased market stability.
Analysts continue to monitor the Central Bank’s policies, especially interventions aimed at improving Dollar liquidity and managing demand pressures.
The Naira’s performance in the coming weeks will likely depend on consistent supply inflows and investor sentiment across the broader economic landscape.