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Tag: January

  • DMO’s January bond auction receives N300bn over subscription

    DMO’s January bond auction receives N300bn over subscription

    The Debt Management Office (DMO) says its just concluded Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) bond auction for January was oversubscribed.

    DMO, which made this known in a statement on Thursday, stated that the auction received a total of 160 bids.

    It revealed some minor adjustments in the bonds offer during the auction.

    “Our FGN bond auction for January 2022 concluded yesterday with a total of 160 successful bids.

    “The auction recorded an over-subscription of N111 billion and N214 billion for the January 2026 and January 2042 bond offers respectively.

    “Successful bids for 12.5 per cent FGN January 2026 and 13 per cent January 2042 were allotted at the marginal rates of 11.5 per cent and 13 per cent respectively.

    “However, the original coupon rates of 12.5 per cent for the FGN January 2026 will be maintained while the coupon rate for 13 per cent FGN 2042 (New Issue) is set at 13 per cent, ” it explained.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the DMO had recently released a bond issuance calender for the first quarter of 2022

  • UK Records Highest Number Of COVID-19 Cases Since January

    UK Records Highest Number Of COVID-19 Cases Since January

    The UK on Friday saw the highest number of Covid infections since January, a senior minister said Friday, as the government seeks to slow the spread of the new variant.

    Communities Secretary Michael Gove said that the country faces a “deeply concerning situation” as the Omicron variant spreads rapidly, with case numbers doubling every two to three days in England.

    The UK said it had a total of 58,194 cases on Friday.

    “We know that we have the highest number of Covid infections across the UK recorded today since January 9,” when there were 59,937 cases, Gove told journalists after meeting leaders of UK regions.

    He added that 30 percent of reported cases in London are now the Omicron variant, while the virus was only identified in the UK two weeks ago.

    Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon warned that “we may be facing — indeed we may be starting to experience — a potential tsunami of infections”.

    The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said that if the trend continues, it expects Omicron to become the dominant variant in the UK by mid-December, with over one million infections by the end of this month. So far there have been 1,265 confirmed Omicron cases.

    The UKHSA also said that early analysis of around 500 people confirmed to be infected with Omicron showed that AstraZeneca and Pfizer jabs “provided much lower levels of protection against symptomatic infection”, in comparison to the Delta variant.

    A booster dose appeared to considerably increase this protection to 70 to 75 percent, it said, while cautioning such small sample sizes should be treated with caution.

    The UK has one of Europe’s highest death tolls from the virus, at 146,255, while death rates have not risen in the last week.

    Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday announced a range of tougher restrictions he called “Plan B”, including compulsory mask-wearing in museums, theatres and cinemas from Friday and guidance to work from home from Monday.

    From Wednesday, people will have to show Covid passes with proof of two jabs or a lateral flow test in order to attend events in crowded settings such as nightclubs and stadiums.

    The new regulations will be put to a debate and vote in the House of Commons next week but are expected to be approved despite opposition from some Tories.

  • Barca identify three Chelsea stars for January move

    Barca identify three Chelsea stars for January move

    La Liga side Barcelona have plans to raid Chelsea in January for a new loan signing.

    Sport says Barca have already drafted up a list of alternatives should they fail to land Manchester City’s England international Raheem Sterling.

    Barca could turn to Hakim Ziyech, Callum Hudson-Odoi or Christian Pulisic to bolster their attacking ranks.

    Ziyech or Pulisic seem more realistic, with Blues boss Thomas Tuchel desperate to hold onto academy product Hudson-Odoi.

    The Chelsea trio have played just 1,547 minutes between them this season across all competitions.

    Hudson-Odoi takes up 800 of those minutes.

    And Pulisic has played just 180, missing the majority of the season so far through injury.

  • EPL: Man Utd chiefs prepared to sell Paul Pogba

    EPL: Man Utd chiefs prepared to sell Paul Pogba

    Manchester United chiefs are prepared to sell Paul Pogba in January.

    The Daily Star says the news comes after it emerged the French international could be sidelined for up to 10 weeks with a damaged thigh muscle.

    But with the World Cup winner running down his contract at Old Trafford and able to sign a deal with another club in January, it means he might have kicked his last ball for United.

    United bosses would prefer to keep Pogba for the rest of the season and are willing to let him leave for nothing next summer.

    But should Real Madrid or Paris Saint Germain be willing to offer a sizeable fee for the midfielder in the next transfer window, then United would consider cutting their losses and letting him go.

    One concern for United is them not being able to replace Pogba with a major signing in January.

    Pogba, who will turn 29 in March, has rejected the offer of a new and improved deal at United.

  • Real Madrid plan January move for Antonio Rudiger

    Real Madrid plan January move for Antonio Rudiger

    La Liga giant Real Madrid are preparing a January move for Chelsea defender Toni Rudiger.

    Off contract in June, Rudiger has so far resisted Chelsea’s attempts to discuss new terms. Instead, his brother and agent is taking soundings from interested clubs across Europe.

    AS says Real Madrid are keen on the Germany international and would consider making a January offer.

    Real coach Carlo Ancelotti is a fan, along with the club’s front office. Ancelotti has concerns about his defensive options after losing Raphael Varane and Sergio Ramos in the summer.

    As such, Real are weighing up making a January move for Rudiger.

  • Lacazette rules out signing new contract at Arsenal

    Lacazette rules out signing new contract at Arsenal

    Premier League outfit Arsenal are preparing to sell Alexandre Lacazette in January.

    The frontman is showing no inclination to sign a new contract at the club, per football.london.

    Lacazette’s present deal expires in the summer, which would mean he can leave Arsenal on a free transfer.

    The Gunners could now be ready to cash in on Lacazette and fellow striker Eddie Nketiah in January.

    They are showing a keen interest in Real Sociedad’s Alexander Isak as a replacement.

    The Swedish frontman has a release clause of €70 million, which means Arsenal would have to raise significant funds to secure his signature in January or next summer.

  • Anthony Martial given green light to leave Man Utd

    Anthony Martial given green light to leave Man Utd

    Manchester United star Anthony Marital could be on his way out of the club in January.

    The Frenchman is a peripheral figure so far this season, especially with the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo from Juventus on deadline day.

    Martial, who suffered a poor spell of form last season after excelling the year before, has been given the all clear by United to move on in January.

    That is according to Eurosport, with the source stating that United want roughly £40 million for Martial.

    There is also the issue of his £250,000-a-week wages, which may put off most teams who would be interested in his signature.

    Inter Milan and Juventus have both been linked with Martial in recent seasons.

  • Ryan Giggs to stand trial in January

    Ryan Giggs to stand trial in January

    Wales boss and ex-Manchester United player Ryan Giggs will go on trial in January accused of headbutting his ex-girlfriend and controlling her.

    Mr Giggs, 47, allegedly assaulted Kate Greville, 36, and caused her actual bodily harm at his home in Greater Manchester on 1 November last year.

    He is also accused of controlling and coercive behaviour between December 2017 and November 2020.

    He will face trial at Manchester Crown Court on 24 January.

    Mr Giggs appeared at the court on Friday during a short hearing where he confirmed his identity and the date was set. He was told the trial could last three weeks.

    He will also attend a plea and trial preparation hearing on 23 July.

    The court was told that the crown was yet to “particularise the indictment” in relation to the accusation of controlling and coercive behaviour.

    Mr Giggs, who is accused of using violence, isolation, belittling, humiliation, harassment, degradation and abuse, previously issued a statement saying he would “look forward to clearing my name”.

    He has also been charged with common assault by beating of Ms Greville’s younger sister, Emma Greville, in the alleged same incident, which he also denies.

    His honour judge Nicholas Dean QC, honorary recorder of Manchester, said there were three weeks available for the trial but added: “I very much hope that this case will not last that amount of time, but that’ll be discussed further on the next occasion this case is listed.”

    Mr Giggs was bailed until his court appearance in July.

    The Football Association of Wales (FAW) announced caretaker boss Robert Page will manage the country at this summer’s European Championship finals.

    BBC

  • FG, States, LGAs share N640.3bn for January

    FG, States, LGAs share N640.3bn for January

    The Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) has shared N640.310 billion to the three tiers of government for January.

    Mr Hassan Dodo, the Director of Information, Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, said this was made known in a communique issued at the end of virtual conference of FAAC on Thursday.

    The committee in its communique explained that the amount shared by the Federal Government, States and Local Government Areas (LGAs) included cost of collection to different agencies involved.

    It noted that N640.310 billion shared included cost of collection to Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

    The committee also noted that the Federal Government received N226.998 billion, the states received N177.171 billion and the LGAs got N131.399 billion.

    It added that the oil producing states received N26.777 billion as derivation (13 per cent of Mineral Revenue) and Cost of Collection/Transfer and Refunds got N75.966 billion.

    According to the communique, the Gross Revenue available from the Value Added Tax (VAT) for January was N157.351 billion.

    It stated that this was against N171.358 billion distributed in the preceding month of December 2020, resulting in a decrease of N14.007 billion.

    “The distribution is as follows: Federal Government got N21.950 billion, the states received N73.168 billion, LGAs got N51.218 billion, while Cost of Collection – FIRS and NCS got N11.015 billion.

    “The distributed Statutory Revenue of N482.958 billion received for the month was higher than the N437.256 billion received for the previous month by N45.703 billion.

    “From this, the Federal Government received N205.047 billon, states got N104.003 billion, LGAs got N80.162 billion, Derivation (13 per cent Mineral Revenue) got N28.777 billion and Cost of Collection/ Transfer and Refund got N64.951 billion.”

    The communique also revealed that Companies Income Tax (CIT) and Oil and Gas Royalty, VAT, and Excise Duty recorded marginal to significant decreases.

    However, Import Duty increased only marginally and Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) recorded a considerable increase.

    Furthermore, the balance in the Excess Crude Account as at Feb. 18 was 72.412 million dollars.

  • Premier League spending slumps in January Transfer Window as COVID-19 bites harder

    Premier League spending slumps in January Transfer Window as COVID-19 bites harder

    Premier League spending slumped by more than two-thirds to a nine-year low of just £70 million ($96 million) in the January transfer window as the coronavirus crisis hit budgets.

    The outlay was dramatically down on last year’s £230 million expenditure, which came just weeks before the Covid-19 pandemic shut down football across Europe.

    And it is in sharp contrast to a bumper summer transfer window, when English top-flight clubs spent freely despite the lingering uncertainties to ensure total net expenditure for the 2020/21 season reached a new record level of £950 million.

    Just £7 million was spent on deadline day as the Premier League comes to terms with the financial impact of the virus and new Brexit rules that make it tougher to recruit young players from Europe.

    The figures, from financial experts Deloitte, showed there were a total of 24 Premier League transfers in the winter window — 48 percent fewer than the average for the previous three-year January transfer windows.

    Manchester United’s Amad Diallo, Aston Villa new boy Morgan Sanson and West Brom pair Mbaye Diagne and Robert Snodgrass were among the handful of high-profile permanent signings as teams made the decision to rely on their existing squads or opted for loans.

    Just three £10-million-plus signings — West Ham’s Said Benrahma, Diallo and Sanson, accounted for more than 75 percent of Premier League expenditure.

    Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal were the only “big six” Premier League clubs to spend even though the race has been one of the most open in years.

    Champions Liverpool borrowed much-needed defensive cover in the form of Schalke’s Ozan Kabak, along with a low-cost permanent deal for Preston’s Ben Davies.