No Looking Back for S. African Rand as Bears Lose Conviction

No Looking Back for S. African Rand as Bears Lose Conviction

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – Rand bears are on the retreat as South Africa’s currency heads into 2019. The currency got off to a blistering start to the year, adding 3 percent amid receding worries over the U.S.-China trade war and the Federal Reserve’s second thoughts about policy tightening. And in a sign investor are leaving last year’s 14 percent slump behind them, some bearish indicators back at levels last seen before Turkey’s meltdown in August….

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South Africa’s ANC Resolves to Change Constitution on Land

South Africa’s ANC Resolves to Change Constitution on Land

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – South Africa’s ruling party decided to complete a proposed amendment to the nation’s constitution to make it clearer under what conditions land can be expropriated without compensation, prompting the rand to weaken. This brings the African National Congress closer to the populist Economic Freedom Fighters party, after the ANC said earlier that land redistribution will only be done in a manner that doesn’t harm the economy, agricultural production or…

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Guaranty Trust Bank Nigeria Eyes Mozambique to Double Income From Africa

Guaranty Trust Bank Nigeria Eyes Mozambique to Double Income From Africa

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Guaranty Trust Bank, Nigeria’s biggest lender by market value, plans to open in Mozambique as it targets the country’s gas market to help prop up profit from African subsidiaries. The lender will enter Mozambique in the first quarter of 2019 “to capitalize on the country’s offshore gas boom,’’ after it opens in Tanzania in January next year, it said. The expansion will increase the contribution to profit by African…

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South Africa Inflation Rate Rises for First Time in 2017

South Africa Inflation Rate Rises for First Time in 2017

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – South Africa’s inflation rate rose for the first time this year in May after food-price growth quickened from the slowest pace since December 2015. Consumer-price inflation accelerated to 5.4 percent from 5.3 percent in April, matching the median estimate of 22 economists in a Bloomberg survey and staying within the central bank’s target range for a second month. Prices increased 0.3 percent in the month, Statistics South Africa said in a report…

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South Africa Inflation at 17-Month Low Shows End to Rate Hikes

South Africa Inflation at 17-Month Low Shows End to Rate Hikes

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – South Africa’s inflation rate fell within the central bank’s target band in April for the first time in eight months, reinforcing chances that the rate-increase cycle may have come to an end. Consumer-price inflation eased to 5.3 percent from 6.1 percent in March, Statistics South Africa said in a report released Wednesday in the capital, Pretoria. That’s the lowest rate since December 2015 and compares with the median estimate of 5.6 percent by…

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Africa’s Largest Data-Center Firm Raises $91 Million for Growth

Africa’s Largest Data-Center Firm Raises $91 Million for Growth

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – Teraco Data Environments, which says it is the largest provider of data-center services in Africa, said it raised 1.2 billion rand ($90 million) from South African lender Barclays Africa Group Ltd. to invest in information-technology infrastructure on the continent. The closely held business will use some of the cash to complete the construction of a new data center in eastern Johannesburg by the end of year, according to a statement e-mailed…

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DEG invests ZAR100m in Southern African fashion retailer

DEG invests ZAR100m in Southern African fashion retailer

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa)- DEG is providing ZAR 100 million to Southern African retail chain, Retailability (Pty) Limited which targets customers in the low to middle income bracket. Retailability is deploying the additional capital to expand its operations – as it has recently acquired the fashion retailer LEGIT that also operates in Southern Africa. The investment was facilitated and led by the African Private Equity firm Metier through its Metier Capital Growth Fund II…

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