MONEY/EXCHANGE

Naira depreciates further to N385/$ in parallel market
 Femi Ajasa /Babajide Komolafe

LAGOS- The naira, yesterday, depreciated further to N385 per dollar in the parallel market as demand for foreign exchange intensified.

This implies the naira has depreciated by N60 against the dollar this week in the parallel market, when compared with the closing exchange rate of N325 per dollar last Friday.

The currency, however, remained stable at the official interbank foreign exchange market as the interbank rate closed N199.34, yesterday.

Thus, the gap between the interbank and parallel market rates widened to N185.66 per dollar from N127.53 last Friday.

Vanguard investigation also reveals that the naira depreciated against the British pounds to N505 per pounds in the parallel market, yesterday, implying N65 depreciation when compared with the closing rate of N440 last Friday.

Investigations revealed that the sharp depreciation of the naira in the parallel market this week is driven by increasing demand by importers sourcing dollars to pay for imports from China.

According to a BDC operator, who spoke on condition of anonymity, "you know China had been on its one month annual holidays. But they resumed work on Monday, and people have to complete payment for goods ordered before the holidays.

“They had made 30 per cent down payment to order the goods and they now have to pay the 70 per cent balance otherwise they will lose the 30 per cent. That is why they are desperate and ready to buy dollars at any rate. Meanwhile, supply is scarce and those who have dollars are not willing to sell because they might also need the currency soon."

The naira has been on steady decline since Tuesday, January 12, 2016, when the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) stopped weekly dollar sale to BDCs. Prior to this action, the naira traded at N265 per dollar in the parallel market. Consequently, the naira has depreciated by N80 in the parallel market since the CBN took the action.

The steady depreciation was also aggravated by inability of the CBN to meet foreign exchange demand. Vanguard investigations reveal that the parallel market is being bedevilled with demand for foreign exchange from importers of the 41 items excluded from the official market by CBN last year as well as importers of items not excluded from the official market.

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