Naira Rallies Across Markets, Trades Below N900/$1 At P2P

For the first time since August 2023, the exchange rate dipped below the N900 to $1 mark on peer-to-peer (P2P) platforms, including Binance, indicating a robust turnaround for the Naira.

Data from the acclaimed Binance Crypto trading platform showed the exchange rate at an impressive N855 to $1. This development highlights the naira’s impressive recovery trajectory.

The black market, often regarded as an unofficial gauge of the currency’s vigour – has listed exchange rates ranging from N1000 to N1,100 for $1 in cash transactions.

Several black market dealers shared the sentiment that the naira’s rally might be linked to the recent influx of positive news reports, notably those highlighting the government’s progress in clearing forex backlogs.

A black market operator, requesting anonymity, mentioned that the market may be transitioning from ‘panic buying’ to ‘panic selling,’ a stark reversal of the previous trend.

On the official front, the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM) witnessed the Naira closing at an encouraging N776.14, marking its strongest finish since October 13th of the current year, a notable improvement from the preceding day’s close of N793.2.

The breakthrough below the N900 threshold on the p2p market is being celebrated as a considerable psychological triumph by Nigerian government officials and their surrogates on social media.

The Naira commenced the week trading at N1,110 last week Monday, experienced a slight dip to N1,180 on Tuesday, and then exhibited a positive trend on Wednesday and Thursday, closing at N1,175 and N1,125, respectively.

The most astounding surge occurred last Friday, with the Naira selling at N950/$.

Naira rebound may not be unconnected with augmented foreign exchange inflows, deft policy interventions by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and stringent measures against illegal financial activities.

It would be recalled that the CBN focused on Tier 2 Nigerian banks and international banks with over 75 to 80 per cent of the foreign exchange forward contracts obligations cleared.

Findings show that Citigroup ($72 million), Stanbic ($125 million), and Standard Chartered ($63 million) are among the companies that are receiving forex futures deliveries last week

The FG also stated that it expected to spend $10 billion to settle FX obligations, support the country’s FX market, and stabilize the naira.

Minister of Finance Wale Edun, said that forex liquidity will improve in the coming weeks.

He further highlighted that discussions with sovereign wealth funds willing to invest and provide advances along with investments are in advance phases.

A US multinational financial services firm, JP Morgan, on Wednesday projected that the naira would trade at N850/$ at the Investors’ and Exporters’ forex window before the end of 2023.

However, the US bank said the recent efforts to restore a flexible forex regime may be sustained given the willingness to accompany it with tighter monetary conditions.