Business

Tax law: N5tn VAT windfall for states as new formula begins

Published

3 weeks ago

January 8, 2026

The 36 states of the federation are set to receive an estimated N5.07tn as their share of Value Added Tax in 2026, following the commencement of a new VAT sharing formula introduced under the National Tax Acts, findings by The PUNCH have shown.

This development is contained in the 2026–2028 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper approved by the Federal Executive Council.

According to the fiscal framework, the implementation of the new National Tax Acts from January 2026 will reduce the Federal Government’s VAT share from 15 per cent to 10 per cent, while the states’ share rises from 50 per cent to 55 per cent, and Local Governments continue to receive 35 per cent.

According to the projections in the MTEF/FSP document, the Federal Government’s VAT allocation is expected to drop to N922.53bn in 2026, down from N1.04tn in 2025, even as the VAT pool itself grows significantly year on year.

The projected N922.5bn allocation to the Federal Government represents 10 per cent of the anticipated N9.23tn distributable VAT revenue for 2026, confirming the full implementation of the new formula.

Under the previous formula used in 2025, the Federal Government received 15 per cent of the VAT pool, which was projected at N6.95tn for that year. The difference in share means the Federal Government will now receive five percentage points less of a larger pool.

If the previous 15 per cent formula had been retained in 2026, the Federal Government’s VAT share would have amounted to approximately N1.38tn. With only 10 per cent allocated under the revised law, the Federal Government is projected to receive N922.5bn.

The difference between the two figures is N461.27bn, which represents what the Federal Government may forfeit to the states as a result of the revised allocation ratio, if the revenue target is met.

The five percentage point shift in VAT share from the Federal Government to states is projected to give states an additional N461.27bn in 2026, pushing their collective allocation to N5.07tn, up from N3.47tn in 2025.

The 2026 figure represents 55 per cent of the N9.23tn pool, compared to the 50 per cent share of the N6.95tn pool in 2025. Local Governments, whose VAT share remains unchanged at 35 per cent, are expected to collect N3.23tn in 2026, up from N2.43tn in 2025.

The year-on-year growth in total VAT revenue, from N6.95tn to N9.23tn, provides some cushion to the Federal Government, even as it absorbs the loss in its percentage share. However, the data also makes it clear that the bulk of the VAT growth is now structurally flowing to subnational governments under the new tax law, which aims to deepen fiscal federalism.

Further projections in the fiscal document show that the VAT pool is expected to increase to N10.87tn in 2027 and N13.28tn in 2028. Applying the 10 per cent share, the Federal Government’s VAT revenue is projected to rise to N1.09tn in 2027 and N1.33tn in 2028.

These nominal increases reflect the expanding VAT base but do not reverse the structural shift in distribution. By contrast, the states’ 55 per cent share will yield N5.98tn in 2027 and N7.30tn in 2028, while Local Governments are projected to receive N3.81tn and N4.65tn respectively under their constant 35 per cent share.

The long-term trend indicates that state and local governments are now better positioned to benefit from rising VAT collections, especially as tax net expansion and digital enforcement continue to improve.

The VAT pool is only one segment of the total distributable public revenue. The main Federation Account pool—dominated by oil revenue, company income tax, and customs duties—is projected to decline sharply in 2026 before rebounding in subsequent years.

The main pool is expected to shrink from N60.26tn in 2025 to N41.06tn in 2026, representing a N19.2tn drop. The current revenue-sharing formula for the main pool gives the Federal Government 52.68 per cent, states 26.72 per cent, and local governments 20.60 per cent.

Based on these ratios, the Federal Government’s share is projected to decline from N31.74tn in 2025 to N21.63tn in 2026. This reflects a loss of about N10.1tn. State governments will see their share fall from N16.10tn to N10.97tn, while local governments will collect N8.46tn, down from N12.41tn.

Although the main pool is expected to improve slightly in subsequent years—rising to N45.67tn in 2027 and N50.90tn in 2028—the Federal Government’s earnings from this stream remain significantly below 2025 levels. Its share is projected to recover to N24.06tn in 2027 and N26.81tn in 2028.

Similarly, states are expected to receive N12.20tn and N13.60tn, while local governments would get N9.41tn and N10.48tn over the two years.

Another key component of the distributable pool is stamp duty revenue, formerly the Electronic Money Transfer Levy. The distributable stamp duty pool is projected to rise from N228.85bn in 2025 to N456.07bn in 2026.

The formula for this stream mirrors the VAT structure: 10 per cent to the Federal Government, 55 per cent to states, and 35 per cent to local governments. This means the Federal Government will collect N45.61bn in 2026, up from N34.33bn in 2025.

States will receive N250.84bn, nearly doubling their previous year’s allocation of N114.43bn. Local Governments are projected to receive N159.62bn in 2026, compared to N80.10bn in 2025.

The rise is attributed to growth in electronic payment channels and the wider adoption of digital financial services, which are driving up transaction volumes and collections.

Projections for 2027 and 2028 suggest continued expansion in stamp duty revenue, reaching N579.82bn and N752.45bn, respectively. Of this, the Federal Government is expected to receive N57.98bn in 2027 and N75.24bn in 2028, while states will get N318.90bn and N413.85bn. Local Governments will be entitled to N202.94bn in 2027 and N263.36bn in 2028.

The new VAT formula and rising stamp duty revenues reflect a broader structural rebalancing of public finance in Nigeria, with states and local governments increasingly positioned as primary beneficiaries of consumption-driven taxes.

The PUNCH earlier reported that the Nigeria Economic Summit Group warned that the Federal Government could face revenue shortfalls if it does not increase the value-added tax rate as part of the ongoing tax reform process.

The Chief Executive Officer of NESG, Dr Tayo Aduloju, made this statement during an interactive media session in Abuja. He emphasised that while reforms to the VAT system are essential, maintaining the current VAT rate without an increase could result in a significant loss of revenue for the government.

Speaking on the issue, Aduloju said, “Without those rate hikes, it means that the government might lose some revenue.” Aduloju explained that the current tax reform process must strike a balance between simplifying the tax system and increasing the VAT rate to maintain revenue stability.

According to him, simply reducing the number of taxes without adjusting the VAT rate could weaken the government’s revenue base.

Also, in its most recent Article IV Consultation Report on Nigeria, the International Monetary Fund noted that although the recent tax reforms approved by the National Assembly and President Bola Tinubu represent a major step forward in modernising the VAT and Company Income Tax regimes, the choice to maintain the current VAT rate would lead to an immediate revenue shortfall.

It stated that the Federal Government may lose as much as 0.5 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product in revenue following its decision not to raise the VAT rate.

“The decision not to raise the VAT rate now is reasonable, given high poverty and food insecurity, and with the cash transfer system to support the most vulnerable households not yet fully rolled out. However, this will reduce consolidated government revenue by up to ½ per cent of GDP in the authorities’ estimates,” the report noted.

According to the Fund, unless alternative financing options are found, subnational governments may be forced to either scale back spending or ramp up their own revenue efforts.

The IMF, however, acknowledged the government’s justification for delaying a VAT hike, particularly at a time of worsening poverty and food insecurity.

Speaking recently at the launch of the BudgIT State of States 2025 Report in Abuja, where he delivered the keynote address, the Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, projected that states could earn more than N4tn annually from 2026 when new Value Added Tax reforms take effect.

He said, “With VAT reforms kicking in from 2026, states’ share will rise to 55 per cent. That could amount to over N4tn in 2026. The question is: will this money be spent, or will it be invested?”

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Business

Counterfeit empire: Lagos electronics market where fake products sustain luxury

Published

7 hours ago

January 31, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

Beneath the bustling chaos of Alaba International Market lies a hidden economy built on counterfeit goods. Refurbished televisions masquerade as brand-new, logos deceive the eye, and receipts vanish without a trace. For traders, it is a lifeline, a way to support families and even sustain luxury lifestyles; for unsuspecting buyers, it often means disappointment and significant financial loss. In this investigation, CHIJIOKE IREMEKA not only exposes the underdogs behind this imitation business but also draws parallels with similar trade hubs worldwide, offering potential solutions to curb this thriving culture

“I didn’t know a television could be refurbished and painted the way a vehicle could be panel-beaten and sprayed,” said 31-year-old Dumebi Asika, recalling how he was shortchanged at Alaba International Market, Lagos, while trying to buy a 65-inch smart TV for his home.

The newlywed had recently rented a two-bedroom flat in Okota, Amuwo-Odofin, in the heart of Ojo Local Government Area, Lagos State, for N1.8m. After furnishing his living room with sofas, he set out to buy a fashionable smart television as a gift for his wife.

However, with the prices of new televisions rising across brands, the 65-inch TV he wanted was beyond his budget.

A new model was going for N620,000, while a tokunbo (used) television sold for N242,000. Reluctantly, he opted for a used set, but that decision would later lead to disappointment.

“Everything went wrong when I settled for tokunbo instead of my original choice. I went for a fairly used TV, but I was given a refurbished one instead,” he said.

How it began

What the smooth-talking seller, known only as Joe, actually handed Asika was an old TV set cleverly passed off as tokunbo.

“The TV worked perfectly for a couple of weeks, but after a month, it started overheating and randomly shutting down. Within a week, lines appeared across the screen. I was shocked,” he recalled.

Attempts to reach Joe through the contact on the receipt proved futile. Frustrated, Asika took the television to a local electrician, who delivered the unwelcome news: the set was not a genuine Samsung.

While the casing bore Samsung branding, the internal components: panel, motherboard, and power unit, were cheap, mismatched parts from unknown manufacturers.

Essentially, it was an assembled TV masquerading as a branded product.

“It was a screen problem, but repairing it would cost almost as much as the TV itself, with no guarantee it would last. I was advised to return it to the seller,” Asika explained.

Finding the seller, Joe, was complicated by ongoing demolition and rebuilding projects in the market, which had displaced many traders. When they finally met, Joe argued the television had been in perfect condition when it was sold, claiming Asika damaged it and should bear the responsibility.

“It was a heated argument. People gathered to intervene, but Joe insisted he had done nothing wrong, saying he sold the product two months earlier and couldn’t accommodate returns beyond that period.

“Eventually, I had to drop the faulty set, pay an additional N49,500, and accept a 55-inch LG TV instead of the 65-inch I wanted. I wish I had gone for my initial choice, a brand-new TV. But it was an experience that changed my perception of tokunbo items,” Asika lamented.

‘I paid for a 55-inch TV but 45-inch was given’

In a similar case, 48-year-old civil servant, Sunday Chinwike, fell victim to brand counterfeiters at Alaba Market. After saving for months to upgrade his living room TV, he was led to believe he could get a high-quality 55-inch LG smart television at a lower price.

Guided by local hustlers known as Osoafia boys, who posed as market insiders, Chinwike was led into a shop lined with neatly stacked LG-branded television cartons.

The shop assistants, later discovered to be impostors, showcased the television’s features, displayed an LG-branded remote control, and produced a seemingly convincing warranty card.

“The price was N320,000, lower than elsewhere, but not suspiciously cheap. I trusted them. I didn’t understand the meaning of being careful until I was shortchanged,” Chinwike recalled.

**Trader packing a counterfeited LG television into a carton after manually stamping LG logo on it**

He said he was drawn in by claims of a promotional price and LG’s excess stock.

“After a brief test in the shop, the television came on, showed bright colours and looked genuine. Unfortunately, I did not pay attention to the software or the size,” the man said.

It was only after returning home that his son, Marcel, began navigating the settings and noticed anomalies.

“Some of the apps and software in the menu weren’t customised. After a series of checks, we discovered it wasn’t an LG product at all; it was a clone. We also realised it wasn’t as large as my neighbour’s television. Yet, surprisingly, most features worked, including Bluetooth and Wi-Fi,” Chinwike explained.

Shocked by the discovery, father and son returned to the shop seeking a replacement, only to encounter the real shop owner, who delivered an unexpected revelation.

“By the time we arrived, the seller had disappeared. The shop owner examined the television and said it was not his product. He said he did not even stock 55-inch LG televisions. The receipt I had did not come from his store. Apparently, Osoafia hustlers had sourced the set from another vendor and sold it as genuine,” Chinwike said.

The owner advised him to exercise more caution, clarifying that the product itself was not faulty, just that it was simply not authentic.

“The original model sells for about N750,000 and is roughly 10 inches larger than the one I bought. I had to return home with the fake television, wasting my transport fare. Still, it wasn’t entirely useless, and I learnt my lesson,” he added.

Chinwike’s experience, like that of many others, highlights a fractured system in which counterfeit global brands sustain livelihoods while ordinary Nigerians bear the brunt.

The menace of counterfeiting

Across Alaba International Market, counterfeit products, including telephones, cables, electronics, and televisions, are sold daily.

LG, Samsung, and Hisense are among the global brands most commonly imitated. Investigations by Sunday PUNCH revealed that traders import generic or substandard TV panels, assemble them locally, and brand them with popular logos. To the untrained eye, the products appear authentic, with carefully fabricated cartons, substandard remote controls, start-up screens, and serial numbers.

Experts warn that until regulatory agencies, brand owners, and policymakers enforce stricter measures, Alaba’s counterfeit economy will continue to thrive, ensnaring unsuspecting buyers behind familiar logos.

Regulatory agencies, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, have occasionally carried out raids in the market, seizing counterfeit goods and shutting down shops engaged in illegal activities.

However, enforcement has remained inconsistent. The market’s vast size, dense population, and political sensitivity mean that business often resumes almost immediately after raids. Brand owners have also faced criticism for weak local oversight and limited consumer education.

Millions lost to counterfeiting

The World Bank estimates that Nigeria loses around 15 per cent of potential GDP growth annually due to counterfeit products and related illegal trade.

Experts note that the Information and Communications Technology and electronics sectors are particularly vulnerable, with counterfeit devices contributing to poor service quality and financial losses for both consumers and original manufacturers.

Even international watchdogs have taken notice. In 2014, the Trademark Working Group, an informal collaboration of US companies facing challenges protecting their trademarks abroad, listed Alaba as one of Nigeria’s most notorious markets for counterfeit goods.

In 2018, SON revealed that Nigeria lost N15bn annually to counterfeiters.

A former SON director, John Achukwu, made this known at a stakeholders’ workshop on “Reduction of Substandard Products in Nigeria” for the South-East zone.

Today, counterfeit goods are noted to make up 40 per cent of products in the Nigerian market, causing annual economic losses exceeding $20bn.

Many of these products, particularly electronics, are imported, and according to SON, the body had previously destroyed counterfeit items worth up to N500m in single operations.

Recent accounts from buyers highlight the persistence and severity of these scams.

A banker, Wilson Ebo, for instance, said he went to Alaba to buy a second-hand Samsung home theatre, only to realise it was counterfeit.

“After testing the sets and negotiating a price of N25,000, I paid and signed the receipt without scrutiny. Later, a shop assistant told me the DVD engine worked only on a generator and suggested a swap. When I asked for a refund, the seller refused. An elderly man posing as a mediator later revealed that the receipt excluded the subwoofer and speakers. It became clear that the mediator was part of the scam. I had no choice but to pay an extra N6,000, and even then, the so-called Samsung was fake, as the logo was simply glued on it,” he said.

Fake products, cheap alternatives

Sunday PUNCH’s investigation revealed a system sustained by economic hardship and weak regulation, even as some traders defended the sale of low-quality goods as affordable alternatives for the masses.

“The goods you call fake are actually cheap alternatives for the masses. If we sold only originals, what would the poor do? How many people can afford them? Customers want affordable products because of the country’s economic situation. Everyone is just trying to survive, and you cannot blame anyone for that. Those who cannot afford the original will go for an alternative and still enjoy their lives,” argued a trader, Joshua Chidozie.

He acknowledged that alternatives are not necessarily bad but warned that some hustlers do not provide buyers with true, full details.

“If you are not careful, they will sell that same alternative to you as the original. In the market, there are always two products: original and copy. You can get the one you want, but if you don’t know and seek a cheaper product, they will sell you a copy in place of the original,” he added.

In contrast, an electronics engineer, Kenneth Ikwo, warned that the normalisation of counterfeiting has created a dangerous marketplace where deception has become routine. He noted that while consumers are often blamed for being ‘careless,’ the sophistication of counterfeit products makes it nearly impossible for the average buyer to identify a fake.

“You can’t be more careful than the criminals. Some counterfeit TVs pass basic on-the-spot tests but fail weeks or months later, long after the seller has disappeared. Beyond financial loss, the risks are serious. Substandard electronics can cause electrical faults, fires, and health hazards. Many fake TVs lack proper insulation and voltage regulation, which can burn sockets and damage entire apartments,” Ikwo warned.

He alleged that traders often source low-quality television sets from foreign manufacturers, particularly in China, without brand logos. Once in Nigeria, he noted, local printing shops produce counterfeit brand cartons to package the products as originals—a practice recently highlighted in a viral video circulating online.

Fake LG logo syndicate exposed

Recently, a suspected syndicate was exposed inside Alaba International Market for printing LG logos on cartons for 45-inch and 55-inch televisions. A viral video obtained by Sunday PUNCH showed the suspects stamping LG logos on cartons as they prepared the televisions for sale to unsuspecting customers.

**Stack_of fake television inside of fake LG cartorns at Alaba Internationa Market, Ojo. Lagos**

A voiceover in the video said, “Yesterday, I was in Alaba… and I came across this guy printing the LG logo on these new TVs.”

According to the narrator, over 3,000 cartons of counterfeit televisions were discovered inside the shop, raising fresh concerns about the scale of fake electronics flooding Lagos.

Prospective buyers were urged to exercise caution, as branded packaging alone does not guarantee authenticity.

Why the menace persists

An electronics dealer in Festac town, Osita Udegbunam, attributed the persistence of counterfeiting to poverty and the struggle for survival.

“As a first-time visitor to the market, you’ll encounter Osofia hustlers who direct you to shops or claim they have exactly what you are looking for. These are mostly unemployed young men with no capital to start trading, but with extensive knowledge of the market.

“They guide buyers to sellers, earning small tokens from both parties to survive. Even married men rely on these crumbs to support their families. This system exists in major markets – electronics, foodstuffs, and more,” he said.

Udegbunam noted that similar practices are common in Alaba Rago, the livestock market, where local boys guide buyers, as well as in cattle markets.

“However, due to hunger and desperation, some have turned to crime as a faster way to survive. No authority can solve this without addressing the root causes. Create jobs, reduce hunger, and make life meaningful for the masses, and these problems will diminish. Even graduates are involved. The hungrier the population, the more people drift into scams and crime,” Udegbunam added.

Supporting this, a trader in Oshodi, Jonathan Isibor, explained that while some hustlers are genuinely trying to make a living, others deliberately prey on unsuspecting buyers.

“The bad ones usually exploit greed. They may offer an LG 42-inch LED TV for N100,000 or quote other unrealistic prices. If you fall for it, you return the next day claiming you were scammed at Alaba. These scammers operate in organised rings, and once you fall into one, escaping their trap is difficult. The best protection is to remain alert and wary of their tricks,” he advised.

Isibor added that these hustlers cut across ethnic lines, Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa, but are united by a single motive: defrauding unsuspecting buyers.

“Hunger knows no tribe, and crime has no colour. A Yoruba hustler may discourage you from buying from an Igbo trader, and vice versa, but they often belong to the same ring. Their sole aim is to defraud you,” he explained.

The trader also noted that task forces oversee different sections of the market. “Once you identify where you made a transaction, report it immediately to the task force, and it will be addressed. Alaba has many genuine, hardworking traders, but in a market of this size, bad actors will always exist. Buyers must stay observant, avoid shady deals, and carefully read receipts before signing or making payment,” he added.

‘We are hustlers, not criminals’

One of the Osoafia hustlers, Peter Balogun, rejected the criminal label often attached to them, insisting that most are simply trying to survive.

“We are not criminals,” he insisted. “We hustle to feed our homes. What we do is guide customers to traders who sell the products they are looking for. When a customer buys, we get a small commission from the trader or a token from the customer.”

Balogun acknowledged that some individuals exploit the system to commit scams, but emphasised that they do not represent the majority. “Bad people are spoiling the work for us, but many of us are genuine. Unemployment and hardship have pushed many young men into Osoafia hustling. There are no jobs. This market is how we survive,” he added.

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Business

PHOTOS: FAAN Launches Nigeria’s First Fully Electric Airport Shuttle

Published

21 hours ago

January 30, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria FAAN has launched electric shuttle buses at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja in a major step toward modernising airport operations improving service delivery and advancing environmental sustainability.

The project was executed in collaboration with Possible EVS and NEV Electric.

Speaking at the launch, the chairman of the FAAN Board, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje described the initiative as a milestone in FAAN’s drive to modernise airport operations and align Nigeria’s aviation sector with global best practices.

“These vehicles will support airside and landside logistics staff movement and services strengthening passenger coordination and efficiency across the airport,” he said.

Ganduje noted that electric vehicles offer strong environmental and operational advantages as they are cleaner quieter and more energy efficient significantly reducing carbon emissions and FAAN’s ecological footprint.

He added that the initiative supports global sustainability targets including the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

“By embracing electric mobility FAAN is positioning Nigerian airports to remain competitive responsible and future ready,” he stated.

The former Kano state governor further explained that the predictable performance and lower maintenance requirements of electric vehicles will enhance monitoring coordination compliance accountability and overall service reliability.

According to him this will translate into more transparent efficient and passenger friendly airport services.

For her part, FAAN Managing Director, Olubunmi Kuku said the initiative demonstrates the authority’s commitment to a sustainable climate future by reducing carbon footprint and addressing the effects of climate change.

She noted that the electric vehicles will reduce dependence on fossil fuels lower operating and maintenance costs cut harmful emissions and enhance passenger travel experience.

“They represent more than just transport; they symbolise cleaner air quieter terminals and a commitment to pioneering sustainable infrastructure in Nigerian aviation.”

She described the collaboration with private sector partners as a model for innovation and progress.

“This partnership is a testament to what is possible when the public and private sectors align with a shared vision,”she said.

“FAAN has always prioritised passenger comfort safety and a seamless airport experience and today’s official launch of our electric shuttle buses and cabs is a further powerful demonstration of that commitment to service towards a sustainable future,” she added.

Kuku disclosed that FAAN has secured the approval to deploy 100 Electric Vehicles (EVs) to operate as airport shuttles at both the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Abimbola Gyer, the Head of Fleet Operations at Possible Energy disclosed that the electric shuttle service will operate daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. with a fare of ₦10,000 per passenger from the airport to the city centre.

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Business

Asian stocks hit by fresh tech fears as gold retreats from peak

Published

1 day ago

January 30, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

Asian stocks took a hit on Friday amid fresh worries over vast investments in artificial intelligence, gold and silver tumbled after hitting multiple record highs, and oil retreated on hopes for an easing of US-Iran tensions.

Markets have endured a rollercoaster ride this week as traders weathered a weaker dollar, Donald Trump’s threats against Tehran, a resumption of tariff warnings and a possible US government shutdown.

Fresh optimism in the tech sector about the future of AI has provided support, however, with healthy earnings from companies including Meta, Samsung and SK hynix providing much cheer.

However, the positivity took a hit on Thursday after Microsoft announced a surge in spending on AI infrastructure and revived concerns that companies could take some time before seeing a return on their investments.

There are also fears that firms’ valuations may be a little too stretched and markets could be in a bubble, having soared in recent years to record highs on the back of a tech-fuelled rally.

“Microsoft suffered its worst session since the COVID‑era crash, falling 12 percent and accounting for over two‑thirds of the S&P 500’s decline,” wrote National Australia Bank’s Rodrigo Catril.

“Concerns centred on rising investment spending, slower Azure (cloud service) growth, and a longer runway to monetising AI.”

– Trump Fed pick –

Wall Street ended mostly in the red, with Dow the only advancer.

Asia also struggled amid speculation Trump will pick Kevin Warsh, a former Fed governor and a man considered more hawkish on interest rates, as the next boss of the central bank. The president has said he will name a successor to Jerome Powell on Friday morning US time.

Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo, Sydney, Singapore, Taipei and Bangkok were all down. Seoul, Manila and Wellington rose.

Paris was flat as data showed France’s economy grew slower last year than 2024. London opened lower but Frankfurt rose.

Jakarta rose after a two-day rout sparked by index compiler MSCI calling on regulators to look into ownership concerns.

The compiler said: “If insufficient progress is made towards achieving necessary transparency enhancements by May 2026, MSCI will reassess Indonesia’s market accessibility status.”

It warned this could result in “a weighting reduction in MSCI Emerging Markets Indexes for all Indonesian securities and a potential reclassification of Indonesia from Emerging Market to Frontier Market status”.

Gold was also in retreat, sitting around $5,150 an ounce, a day after topping out above $5,595. Silver was at $106 from a peak of more than $121.

The precious metals were also weighed by a slight uptick in the dollar, having tumbled on Trump appearing to be happy to see the world’s reserve currency weaken despite the potential risk of pushing up US inflation.

Investors are keeping tabs on developments in the Middle East after the US president sent an “armada” to the region and warned Iran of possible strikes if it did not reach a fresh nuclear deal.

Both main contracts were down more than one percent, having spiked as much as five percent Thursday.

Still, concerns remain about a conflict in the crude-rich region, which would send prices soaring, also putting upward pressure on inflation.

In Washington, the US Senate edged closer to a vote on a funding deal to avert a government shutdown following a bitter standoff over Trump’s sweeping immigration crackdown.

Current government funding lapses at midnight on Friday.

– Key figures –

Tokyo – Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.1 percent at 53,322.85 (close)

Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: DOWN 2.1 percent at 27,387.11 (close)

Shanghai – Composite: DOWN 1.0 percent at 4,117.95 (close)

London – FTSE 100: DOWN 0.2 percent at 10,150.97

West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 1.7 percent at $64.32 per barrel

Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 1.6 percent at $68.50 per barrel

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1940 from $1.1962 on Thursday

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3781 from $1.3800

Dollar/yen: UP at 153.74 yen from 153.04 yen

Euro/pound: DOWN at 86.63 pence from 86.67 pence