World’s Richest Families Stockpiling Cash on Recession Fears

World’s Richest Families Stockpiling Cash on Recession Fears

NEW YORK (Capital Markets in Africa) – Rick Stone, a former partner at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, see treacherous times ahead for family offices trying to deploy cash. The head of Stone Family Office said he doubts the bond market will provide any real return over the next decade, that equity markets will suffer a substantial drop and then be flat, and that too much venture capital and private equity money will continue to chase…

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Harvard Was ‘Freaking Out’: How a $270 Million Brazil Bet Tanked

Harvard Was ‘Freaking Out’: How a $270 Million Brazil Bet Tanked

Biggest endowment struggled to unload a troubled investment NEW YORK (Capital Markets in Africa) – Colin Butterfield was frantic. The Harvard University endowment executive wanted to unload a disastrous $270 million investment in Brazilian farmland. But the school had no takers, and it was burning through millions of dollars. “Why I’m freaking out is that we’re running out of money,” Butterfield said in a November 2017 conference call, referring to the project, not the college. “We have no more money.”…

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KENYA INSIGHT: Nairobi Slows as Urbanization Engine Stutters

KENYA INSIGHT: Nairobi Slows as Urbanization Engine Stutters

NAIROBI (Capital Markets in Africa) – Kenya’s capital city Nairobi is being outperformed by semi-urban areas and smaller cities, such as Kiambu and Nakuru, according to data on regional economic activity. There’s some evidence to suggest this may become an emerging trend across Africa with a different pattern of urbanization providing the engine of growth. Nairobi had the weakest GDP per capita growth of all Kenya’s 47 counties. This chimes with World Bank research showing…

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Bitcoin Drops as One-Day Futures Make Debut in Light Trading

Bitcoin Drops as One-Day Futures Make Debut in Light Trading

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – The first Bitcoin futures contracts that settle in the digital currency debuted Monday in thin trading, starting a new chapter in the coin’s tumultuous 10-year history. As of 11 a.m. in New York, 38 of the futures contracts offered on the Intercontinental Exchange Inc.’s Bakkt platform had changed hands. The price of Bitcoin slumped 2.4% to $9,892. The initial federally regulated market to buy and sell Bitcoin could entice conservative investors who have…

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U.K. Court Calls Johnson’s Parliament Suspension ‘Unlawful’ (2)

U.K. Court Calls Johnson’s Parliament Suspension ‘Unlawful’ (2)

LONDON (Capital Markets in Africa) – The U.K.’s top judges inflicted an unprecedented legal defeat on Prime Minister Boris Johnson, branding his controversial decision to suspend Parliament unlawful and calling on lawmakers to return to Parliament as soon as possible. The unanimous landmark decision by the 11 judges Tuesday is a boost for MPs seeking to prevent Johnson pulling the country out of the European Union by Oct. 31 without a deal. By limiting the prime…

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South Africa Lines Up Rare Eurobond as Concern Over Eskom Grows

South Africa Lines Up Rare Eurobond as Concern Over Eskom Grows

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa)  – South Africa is back in the Eurobond market for the first time since May last year, looking to offer securities with returns that compensate investors for mounting fiscal woes. The government is marketing 10- and 30-year dollar securities with yields of between 5% to 5.125% and about 5.875% respectively, according to a person familiar with the transaction who asked not be identified because they are not authorized to speak about it….

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South African Banks Prepare for Biggest Strike in 99 Years

South African Banks Prepare for Biggest Strike in 99 Years

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – South African banks are urging clients to use digital channels as the industry prepares for what could be its biggest strike since 1920. “Banks will be operating as usual on the day,” the Banking Association South Africa said in an emailed statement on Monday. Lenders “are taking the necessary precautions to minimize disruption” related to the proposed protest action on Friday by the South African Society of Bank Officials and the…

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