Bank of Uganda Blames Low U.S. Interest Rates for Endless Losses

Bank of Uganda Blames Low U.S. Interest Rates for Endless Losses

KAMPALA (Capital Markets in Africa – Uganda’s central bank pointed to “abnormally low” rates for U.S. Treasury securities as a major reason behind the reported loss of 2 trillion shillings ($545 million) in the past 15 years.   Over 90% of Bank of Uganda’s earnings are from interest income on foreign-reserve assets, spokeswoman Charity Mugumya said in an emailed response to questions, after lawmakers last week raised concerns about the bank’s ability to deliver on its…

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SAP’s Africa Head Has ‘No Recipe’ for Handling Graft Probes

SAP’s Africa Head Has ‘No Recipe’ for Handling Graft Probes

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – SAP SE’s Africa head said the German software company is battling to complete investigations following allegations its employees paid kickbacks for government business in East and southern Africa. SAP suspended executives in South Africa after reports that the Walldorf-based company had dealings with the country’s corruption-linked Gupta family, and in 2018 said $11 million had been improperly paid to win contracts at the state power and transport companies. Then…

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South African Sugar Master Plan to Allow for Biofuel Production

South African Sugar Master Plan to Allow for Biofuel Production

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – A plan to support South Africa’s ailing sugar industry will include tapping into the biofuel potential of cane. Government, farmers and industrial users in the 14 billion rands ($924-million) industry are working on a strategy to stem a crisis caused by a flood of cheap imports and a tax on sugar-sweetened drinks that lowered the demand from beverage makers. President Cyril Ramaphosa said in his Feb. 13 state-of-the-nation address…

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Sasol Sees Lake Charles Project Adding Profit in Second Half

Sasol Sees Lake Charles Project Adding Profit in Second Half

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – Sasol Ltd. said its setback-hit Louisiana chemical project should generate positive core earnings in the second half of the financial year. The South African chemicals and fuels producer reported a 73% drop in first-half earnings per share after oil prices in rand dropped, global chemical markets softened and the company suffered delays at its Lake Charles Chemicals Project. The U.S. plant negatively impacted earnings by 2.8 billion rand ($185…

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Nigerian Economic Growth at 4-Year High on Oil and Credit Boost

Nigerian Economic Growth at 4-Year High on Oil and Credit Boost

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Nigeria’s economy expanded the most in four years in 2019 as oil output increased and the central bank took steps to boost credit growth. Gross domestic product expanded 2.27% last year, the most since 2015, the Abuja-based National Bureau of Statistics said on its website on Monday. The economy grew 2.55% in the three months through December from a year earlier, compared with 2.3% in the third quarter. The…

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Smooth West African Polls May End Bourse’s Four-Year Losing Run

Smooth West African Polls May End Bourse’s Four-Year Losing Run

ABIDJAN (Capital Markets in Africa) – The benchmark stock index in West Africa’s regional bourse, which has been in retreat since 2016, may get a boost if a flurry of elections in member countries pass off smoothly this year, according to a money manager. Four states affiliated with the Bourse Regionale des Valeurs Mobilieres: Togo, Burkina Faso, Niger and Ivory Coast, Francophone West Africa’s largest economy, go to the polls this year. Successful voting, combined…

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INTO AFRICA February 2020 Edition – Lens on Africa’s Economy in 2020

INTO AFRICA February 2020 Edition – Lens on Africa’s Economy in 2020

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Wish you a prosperous year 2020 and welcome to the February 2020 edition of the INTO AFRICA, a publication written by the professionals, for professionals, investors, policymakers … Advancing and providing fresh insight into Africa’s emerging markets through renowned thought leadership and peer-to-peer knowledge-sharing. This edition provides insight and foresight into African economies from economists and analysts, hence the edition titled: Lens on Africa’s Economy in 2020. Last year…

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