Moody’s changes Ghana’s outlook to negative from positive, affirms B3 rating

Moody’s changes Ghana’s outlook to negative from positive, affirms B3 rating

ACCRA (Capital Markets in Africa) — Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) has today affirmed the Government of Ghana’s long-term local and foreign currency issuer and foreign currency senior unsecured bond ratings at B3 and changed the outlook to negative from positive. Moody’s has concurrently affirmed the local and foreign currency senior unsecured MTN ratings at (P)B3 and the rating of the bond enhanced by a partial guarantee from the International Development Association (IDA, Aaa stable) at…

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Africa: Real GDP to contract by 1.6% in 2020

Africa: Real GDP to contract by 1.6% in 2020

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – The International Monetary Fund projected Sub-Saharan Africa’s (SSA) real GDP to contract by 1.6% in 2020, down from its  growth forecast of 3.6% last October and following an expansion of 3.1% in 2019. It attributed the anticipated contraction to the adverse impact on production and demand of the measures that governments imposed to contain the spread of the coronavirus, to the spillovers from subdued economic activity worldwide, to tighter…

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Moody’s places Tunisia’s B2 rating on review for downgrade

Moody’s places Tunisia’s B2 rating on review for downgrade

TUNIS (Capital Markets in Africa) — Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) has today placed the Government of Tunisia’s B2 issuer ratings on review for downgrade. Moody’s has also placed the Central Bank of Tunisia’s B2 senior unsecured rating and the (P)B2 senior unsecured MTN program and senior unsecured shelf ratings on review for downgrade. The Central Bank of Tunisia is legally responsible for the payments on all of the government’s bonds. These debt instruments are issued…

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COVID-19: Can Africa Afford Lockdowns? By Chukwuma Charles Soludo

COVID-19: Can Africa Afford Lockdowns? By Chukwuma Charles Soludo

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – From Johannesburg to Lagos, Cairo to Dakar, Kinshasa to Kigali, Nairobi to Accra, etc., the debate on how Africa should respond to the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is raging. At an African regional policy platform, I had expressed some of these (personal) views some weeks ago but I have been encouraged by most members to circulate them in Africa beyond the platform. This year, 2020, begins a new decade…

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Africa Energy Forum relocates to Amsterdam from 20-22 October 2020

Africa Energy Forum relocates to Amsterdam from 20-22 October 2020

This year’s Africa Energy Forum (aef) has been rescheduled to take place in Amsterdam, the Netherlands from 20-22 October 2020. Previously due to take place in July, the move comes in the interests of all attendees’ safety after monitoring the COVID-19 situation and its impact on global economies. The Forum, organised by EnergyNet, brings together decision-makers in Africa’s energy sector to form partnerships, identify opportunities and collectively move the industry forward. EnergyNet’s Managing Director Simon…

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Algeria Economy Contract, Ethiopia Weaker Economic Activity

Algeria Economy Contract, Ethiopia Weaker Economic Activity

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – IHS Markit projected Algeria’s economic activity to contract by 5% in 2020 due to the imposition of restrictive measures to address the coronavirus pandemic, as well as to lower hydrocarbon exports. Also, it forecast the fiscal deficit to widen from 8% of GDP in 2019 to 10% of GDP in 2020, despite the government’s plan to reduce spending by 30% this year. It anticipated that the government is likely…

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RMH to Spin Off FirstRand Stake After Market Turmoil Hits Shares

RMH to Spin Off FirstRand Stake After Market Turmoil Hits Shares

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) — RMB Holdings Ltd. will spin off its stake in Africa’s biggest banking group by market value even after turmoil in global stock markets caused the shares of both companies to plunge. The unbundling of FirstRand Ltd. to RMH’s shareholders will unlock 5.4 billion rand ($300 million) in value for investors of the holding company, who will now directly own equity in the banking group, Johannesburg-based RMH said in a statement on Tuesday. Since…

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