Naira

The currency in circulation rose by N58.36bn to N2.84tn in September from N2.79tn in August, the latest figures obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria showed on Sunday. The currency in circulation rose to N2.81tn in July from N2.74tn at the end of June. It fell to N2.79tn in May from about N2.80tn at the end of April. According to the CBN, the broad money supply rose to 5.83 per cent in August from 2.91 per cent in July. It said this was largely driven by the growth of net foreign assets and net domestic assets by 12.35 and 4.30 per cent respectively in August 2021, compared to 1.84 and 3.17 per cent in July. The apex bank said the growth in net foreign assets was largely driven by an increase in foreign asset holdings of commercial and merchant banks. It said the increase in net domestic assets reflected the boost to aggregate credit net, which increased to 8.14 per cent in August from 5.71 per cent in July. In the money market, the monthly weighted average interbank call and open buyback rates increased to 13.45 and 12.97 per cent in August respectively from 10.72 and 11.60 per cent in July.