The Editorial Team |

Covid Antibodies Fade Rapidly, Raising Risk of Lost Immunity

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) — Recovering from Covid-19 may not offer much lasting protection from future infections for those with only mild cases, according to a report that suggests caution regarding so-called herd immunity as well as the durability of vaccines. The correspondence in the New England Journal of Medicine outlined research on antibodies taken from the blood of 34 patients who had recovered after suffering mainly mild symptoms that didn’t require intensive care. Just two…

Boris Johnson’s Global Britain Collides With Global Reality

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LONDON (Capital Markets in Africa) — In early February, just after leaving the European Union and before Britain was engulfed by the coronavirus, Prime Minister Boris Johnson declared his country ready to make its mark on the world again. The U.K. was embarking on a “great voyage” to champion free trade, he said in a speech in London. While not wishing to exaggerate British influence, he warned against downplaying “the eagerness of our friends around the world…

Foreign Investors Shun South African Gold Stocks on Virus Fears

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JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) — Not even a record rally can entice foreign investors to South African gold stocks. With gold prices soaring on the heels of monetary stimulus, shares in producers of the metal are back in favor around the world. But investors are fretting about supply disruptions at South Africa’s mines as a result of soaring Covid-19 infections, according to Benguela Global Fund Managers Ltd. Non-residents sold a net 2.1 billion rand ($128 million) of…

Ghana to Re-Issue Bonds to Bail Out Cash-Strapped Money Managers

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ACCRA (Capital Markets in Africa) — Ghana’s fund managers, unable to access deposits tied-up in failed banks, will receive bonds directly from the government to boost liquidity, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter. Money managers have been struggling to meet withdrawal requests from customers, cover their costs, or make fresh investments. Their funds are locked up in second-tier lenders that lost their licenses after regulators last year clamped down on smaller…

Commonwealth Seeks Urgent Freeze on All Developing Nations’ Debt

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LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) — Many small, vulnerable states are missing out on debt relief and financial support to help weather damage from the coronavirus pandemic because of outdated eligibility criteria, Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland said, calling for an “urgent” moratorium on external debt repayments for all developing countries. The rules to qualify for support from bodies such as the International Monetary Fund and for the Group of 20’s debt suspension initiative are based…

Tesla Congo Cobalt Deal Means Millions for Sanctioned Gertler

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KINSHASA (Capital Markets in Africa) — Elon Musk may help sanctioned Israeli billionaire Dan Gertler get a little richer. Tesla Inc., the company Musk runs, struck a deal last month with Glencore Plc to buy as much as 6,000 tons of cobalt annually for use in the rechargeable batteries that power its electric vehicles. Glencore, in turn, is obligated to pay Gertler about 2.5% of sales from its mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo – royalty rights he…

Kenya’s Shilling Drops to Record After Virus Restrictions Ease

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NAIROBI(Capital Markets in Africa) — The Kenyan shilling slipped to a record low amid increased corporate demand for dollars following the lifting of some government restrictions aimed at controlling the spread of the coronavirus. The currency of East Africa’s largest economy weakened 0.1% to 107.98 per dollar by 10:15 a.m. in the capital, Nairobi, after earlier breaching 108 for the first time. Should it end the day at that level, it would be its lowest…

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