Nigerian banking shares rise 3.3pc ahead of new FX rule

LAGOS: Nigerian banking shares rose 3.3 percent in early trades on Wednesday ahead of the announcement of the central bank's new forex policy, aimed at luring foreign investors.

Domestic investors snapped up shares in the relatively-liquid banking sector in anticipation that the new policy will help generate additional foreign currency business which had dried up under the pegged currency regime.

The central bank last month announced plans to abandon the naira's 15-month peg to the dollar which has overvalued the Nigerian currency, harmed investments and caused the economy to contract. Central bank governor Godwin Emefiele will unveil the new policy at a news conference on Wednesday.