Rocky Road to Stability

2024 Economic Review and 2025 Outlook

Executive Summary

2024 Global Review

In 2024, the global economy presented a varied landscape of recovery and challenges across different regions. The United States experienced uneven growth, with a sluggish start in the first quarter, a rebound in the second, and a slowdown in the third, influenced by global economic adjustments and high-interest rates. Inflation eased somewhat, prompting the Federal Reserve to cut rates to support growth. In China, economic growth slowed due to weak demand and a struggling property sector, despite government efforts to stimulate recovery. Meanwhile, the UK showed signs of recovery, supported by rising wages and reduced inflation, while the Eurozone witnessed its strongest growth in two years, driven by improved performances in France and Spain.

Sub-Saharan Africa saw mixed outcomes in 2024, with countries like South Africa and Kenya dealing with political and economic challenges, while Ghana and Ivory Coast achieved growth through resource exploitation. Inflation rates varied across the region, influenced by both local and global factors.

2025 Global Review

Looking to 2025, the global outlook appears cautiously optimistic, with projected GDP growth of 3.30%. This growth is expected to be led by emerging markets, likely outpacing advanced economies. Inflation is anticipated to moderate further, with advanced economies seeing rates closer to pre-pandemic levels. Central banks are expected to continue adjusting interest rates to strike a balance between economic growth and inflation. Key challenges such as structural issues in advanced economies and potential geopolitical tensions, particularly involving Russia and Ukraine, will play a significant role in shaping the economic landscape.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, 2025 offers potential for stronger growth driven by increased private consumption and investment, though challenges like high debt and political instability remain. Inflation in the region is expected to decline but stay above pre-pandemic levels.

2024 Economic Review: Global Economy

2024 Global Economic snapshot

2024 Global Economic Snapshot

GDP Growth: India led with strong growth (7.80% in Q1 and 5.40% in Q3-2024), while Germany and Japan saw negative or stagnant growth.
Inflation: India saw a higher inflation of 6.20%, US, UK, and Euro Area recorded modest decline from Q1 to Q4, while China and Japan stood out with lower inflation rate.
Interest Rates: Generally, interest rates declined across most advanced economies, with the U.S. and UK seeing significant reductions.
Debt Levels: Advanced economies like France and Canada have the highest debt-to-GDP ratios, exceeding 900.00%, while India and South Korea maintained relatively low levels.
Unemployment: Unemployment rates in the advanced economies were mixed, with some countries experiencing a slight increase and others a decrease.

Emerging
Economies

Emerging Economic Snapshot

Emerging Economies Snapshop

GDP Growth: In 2024, GDP growth in emerging economies was mixed with India and Vietnam showing robust growth, while South Africa experienced a contraction. Brazil and Mexico show moderate growth.
Inflation: Inflation remained elevated across most emerging economies with Turkey and Russia having the highest rates. Indonesia and Vietnam stood out with lower inflation rates.
Interest Rates: Interest rates decisions across central banks were mixed as Indonesia, Turkey, Russia, and Vietnam saw interest rate hikes, while, Mexico and South Africa recorded interest rate cuts but India and Brazil maintained their interest rates.
rates, and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty. While some countries showed signs of resilience, others struggled with economic headwinds.

Middle East Economies

MIDDLE EAST: GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL SUPPORTED ECONOMIC GROWTH

MIDDLE EAST GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL SUPPORTED ECONOMIC GROWTH
  • The Gulf states have relied on their abundant hydrocarbons, particularly oil, to pursue economic and political activities that serve their national interests. The foreign and domestic policies of the Gulf Arab countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, or UAE) significantly affect global energy security, international stability and global markets. The region holds more than 30.0% of the world’s proven crude oil and 20.0% of its natural gas reserves.
  • Real GDP growth in the Middle East has been
    modest in 2024. Most of the growth has been driven by Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
    countries. According to the World Bank’s Gulf Economic Update, economic growth in the GCC is expected to grow by 2.80% in 2024 and 4.7% in
    2025. The region’s prospects builds on the strong momentum of the non-oil economy, and the recovery in oil output.

2025 Outlook
Global Economy

GLOBAL FORECASTS: GLOBAL GROWTH TO REMAIN STABLE BUT SLIGHTLY UNDERWHELMING

GLOBAL ECONOMY
  • Global output will moderate slightly to 3.20% in 2024 and 2025 compared to 3.30% in 2023.
  • This is due to the concerns that continued geopolitical uncertainties, particularly around trade relations, energy supplies, and geopolitical risks in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, may hinder global trade flows and investor confidence, limiting overall output growth.
  • Many countries are winding down the fiscal support measures that were implemented during the pandemic and global energy crisis. As these supports phase out, public spending will contribute less to GDP growth, particularly in developed economies.
  • Trump’s tariff policies will reduce global GDP as global trade and investments may be affected due to uncertainties, cut down in trade volumes, and restructured supply chain.

2024 Economic Review: Sub-
Saharan Africa
(SSA)

2024 SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA SNAPSHOT

2024 SUB SAHARAN AFRICA SNAPSHOT
  • GDP Growth: Sub-Saharan Africa witnessed a mixed growth with Rwanda, Ghana, Uganda and Cote d’voire showing robust growth, while South Africa experienced a slight contraction. Most other countries showed moderate growth.
  • Inflation: Inflation remained elevated across most SSA countries, with Nigeria, Ghana, and Angola having the highest inflationary pressure. Cote d’Ivoire, Rwanda, and Uganda stood out with lower inflation rates.
  • Interest Rates: Central banks tightened monetary policy rates as inflationary pressure became stubborn across the board. Nigeria, Ghana, and Angola recorded the highest interest rates in 2024.

2025 Outlook:
Sub-Saharan
Africa

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA 2025 FORECAST SNAPSHOT

SUB SAHARAN AFRICA 2025 FORECAST SNAPSHOT
In 2025, Sub-Saharan Africa’s growth is projected to improve to 3.60%, driven by easing inflation, increased private consumption, and investment. However, risks such as geopolitical tensions, regional instability, and economic slowdowns in China pose significant threats to this outlook.
  • Nigeria (3.20%): Modest growth will be driven by oil production recovery. However, persistent challenges like insecurity and fiscal imbalances constrain faster growth.
  • Angola (2.80%): Growth reflects stabilized oil production and reforms but faces vulnerabilities from external oil price fluctuations.
  • South Africa (1.50%): Slow growth due to structural issues like energy shortages, high unemployment, and policy uncertainties.

2024 Economic Review: Domestic (Nigerian) Economy

NIGERIA’S 2024 ECONOMIC SNAPSHOT

2024 Macroeconomic Indicators

2024 Macroeconomic Indicators

2024 Monetary Policy Indicators

2024 Monetary Policy Indicators

2024 Trade and External Sector

2024 Trade and External Sector

2024 Oil and Gas Sector

2024 Oil and Gas Sector

2025 Outlook: Domestic Economy

GDP FORECAST: THE NIGERIAN ECONOMY TO MAINTAIN A STEADY GROWTH PERFORMANCE

GDP FORECAST THE NIGERIAN ECONOMY TO MAINTAIN A STEADY GROWTH PERFORMANCE
  • The Nigeria’s GDP will maintain its steady growth in 2025, driven by a sustained rebound in the oil sector and slow but steady growth in the non-oil sector. We project that Nigeria’s real GDP will increase modestly to 3.03% in 2025.
  • In the oil sector, the Nigerian economy is set to benefit from favourable developments, as evidenced by 2024 performance. Net exports are expected to be the primary growth driver, with rising oil export volumes due to improved security in the Niger Delta, commencement of production at Port Harcourt Refinery, and increased production from Dangote refinery displacing most of the fuel and chemical imports in 2025.

2024 Equities
Market Review

2024 EQUITIES MARKET SNAPSHOT

Index Performance

Index Performance

Market Performance Indicators

Market Performance Indicators

Best Performed Stocks

Best Performed Stocks

2025 Outlook: Equities Market

THE PERFORMANCE OF THE NGX-ASI IS EXPECTED TO IMPROVE IN 2025

NGX ASI Forecast

NGX ASI Forecast

NGX Index Current EPS vs Trailing 12M EPS

NGX Index Current EPS vs Trailing 12M EPS

2025 Strategy: Equities Market

2025 EQUITIES STRATEGY: “CORE-SATELLITE STRATEGY”

The Core Component

  • Objectives: To provide steady returns, align with market performance, and ensure low portfolio turnover.
  • Common Investments: Broad market index funds (like S&P 500 ETFs), large-cap stocks, or diversified bond funds.
  • Recommendable Free Float: For a company to qualify as a core holding in a portfolio, a recommendable free float is generally above 50.00%. This is because a higher free float is beneficial for core portfolio holdings to ensure portfolio liquidity & stability and reduced volatility. Also, these stocks often have heightened market confidence.

NGX Index Current EPS vs Trailing 12M EPS

Objectives: To enhance the portfolio’s returns by capturing specific market trends or taking advantage of short-term opportunities. Common Investments: Sector-specific funds, small-cap stocks, emerging markets, growth stocks, or alternative assets (like REITs or commodities). Recommendable Free Float: For a company to qualify as a core holding in a portfolio, a recommendable free float ranges between 20.00% and 50.00%. Because satellite holdings tend to be more volatile or niche investments, the moderate free float range ensures liquidity for opportunistic trades.

2024 Fixed Income Market Review

INVERTED YIELD CURVE: RAISED SHORT-TERM YIELDS DIMINISHED INVESTOR INTEREST IN BONDS

Investors interest towards duration exposure was lacklustre for the better part of 2024

Total Offer vs Total Subscription vs Total Sales at DMO Auction

Total Offer vs Total Subscription vs Total Sales at DMO Auction 1
The market for sovereign duration-exposed instruments (“long-dated bonds”) was relatively quiet in 2024 (particularly at the secondary market), given the elevated level of short-term duration instruments in the same period.

Uncertainty surrounded bond supply in H1-2024 due to irregular auction calendars. The FG conducted sporadic bond auctions in H1-2024, raising 85.0% (N4.67trn) of the total amount (N5.48trn) raised in 2024. The proceeds from the bond auctions conducted were used for budgetary support and clearing out a significant portion of FG’s outstanding Ways and Means with the CBN.

Ultimately, factors that drove bond yields/prices in 2024 include: supply and demand fundamentals, system liquidity, and MPR movements.

2025 Outlook:
Fixed Income
Market

2025 YIELDS PROJECTION

2025 Total Sovereign Maturities

2025 Total Sovereign Maturities

2025 Total Expected Eurobond

2025 Total Expected Eurobond

2025 Strategy:
Fixed Income
Market

STRATEGY: BARBELL STRATEGY WITH TACTICAL ALLOCATION

Barbell Strategy with Tactical Allocation: Brief Summary

This strategy is fortified to leverage the high yields of short-term instruments, while positioning for future gains on long duration bonds. It seeks to strike a balance between income generation, stable liquidity, and portfolio growth.

Barbell Strategy with Tactical Allocation Brief Summary