Credit: REUTERS/Afolabi SotundeBy Chijioke Ohuocha
ABUJA, Aug 28 (Reuters) - The Nigerian naira eased 1.3% against the U.S. dollar on the official market on Friday, a day after the central bank said it planned to resume forex sales to retail currency operators as the country reopens its airports for international travel.
The naira opened for trade at 385.50 per dollar on the market, supported by the central bank. It closed at 381 per dollar at its previous session, Eikon Refinitiv data showed.
The central bank in a circular on Thursday said it will restart dollar sales to bureaux de change operators from Aug. 31 after it suspended auctions in March due to a coronavirus-induced lockdown and after a 15% devaluation.
It said retail traders cannot resell dollars bought from the bank at more than 386 naira.
The bank moved to unify the rates this month, bowing to pressure from international lenders to merge its multiple exchange rates, eliminating arbitrage which has cost the country billions in reserves as it tried to defend the naira.
It was not clear whether the opening trade at 385.50 naira per dollar was carried out by the central bank. Bank officials were not immediately available for comment.
With the trade, the naira is trading close to the over-the-counter spot market, widely quoted by investors and importers. But it is still 20% weaker on the unofficial black market patronised mostly by individuals at 477 naira.
The naira forward traded in London for the one-year settlement rose 3.64% to 478 on Friday.
(Reporting by Chijioke Ohuocha; Editing by Jon Boyle and Carmel Crimmins)
((chijioke.ohuocha@thomsonreuters.com; +234 703 4180 621; Reuters Messaging: chijioke.ohuocha.thomsonreuters@reuters.net))
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
