Zimbabwe’s Ncube Lays Out Economic Recovery Plan Amid Protests

Zimbabwe’s Ncube Lays Out Economic Recovery Plan Amid Protests

HARARE (Capital Markets in Africa) – Zimbabwe’s government said it’s ready to settle with global lenders, sell assets and make the difficult spending decisions needed for financial recovery. But with opposition protests against plunging living standards scheduled in cities nationwide, it’s in a race against time. In an exclusive interview with Bloomberg News on Thursday, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube dismissed rapidly accelerating inflation as “wage compression” and warned the country will have to endure four more months…

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Bitcoin Drop Not Likely Triggered by Scam Dump, Researcher Says

Bitcoin Drop Not Likely Triggered by Scam Dump, Researcher Says

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – The liquidation of cryptocurrencies tied to an alleged ponzi scheme has been among the assorted reasons cited by market pundits for this week’s slide in digital assets. A closer looks suggests that may not be the case. Speculation mounted that the supposed coin dump was the catalyst mounted when Bitcoin and a slew of other coins suddenly crashed around midday Wednesday in New York. Crypto influencer Dovey Wan tweeted that participants in a…

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Goldman Asset Keeps Faith in Stocks in `Overdone’ Bond Rally

Goldman Asset Keeps Faith in Stocks in `Overdone’ Bond Rally

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – It’s hard enough to find a stock bull these days. But one sanguine enough about the economic outlook to forecast just one more rate cut this year? That’s a contrarian. That’s Goldman Sachs Group Inc.’s investment management unit, which oversees about $1.7 trillion. While it’s still waiting for better entry levels to buy the dip, it continues to favor equities and credit over government bonds in a rejection of…

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Major China Buyer Shuns Venezuela Oil on Tighter U.S. Sanctions

Major China Buyer Shuns Venezuela Oil on Tighter U.S. Sanctions

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – China’s biggest energy company is backing away from direct purchases of Venezuelan crude as the Trump administration tightens sanctions against the South American nation. China National Petroleum Corp. has canceled plans to load about 5 million barrels worth of Venezuelan oil onto ships this month in the aftermath of the latest executive order by President Donald Trump, according to people with knowledge of the situation who asked not to be…

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Zambia Won’t ‘Beg’ for Help Fighting Worst Drought Since 1981

Zambia Won’t ‘Beg’ for Help Fighting Worst Drought Since 1981

HARARE (Capital Markets in Africa) – Zambia, in the grips of the worst drought since 1981, isn’t facing a food shortage and won’t declare the situation a national emergency, a government official said. “That is begging,” Chanda Kasolo, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services, said in comments broadcast on privately owned Hot FM radio. “We are a proud nation,” he added, referring to calls to declare a food emergency and allow donors…

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Would Trump Buy Greenland? Denmark Isn’t Selling

Would Trump Buy Greenland? Denmark Isn’t Selling

NEW YORK (Capital Markets in Africa) – President Donald Trump reportedly wants to buy Greenland, the world’s biggest island. Denmark, unsure whether the former real estate developer is joking, isn’t selling. A Wall Street Journal report outlining the U.S. president’s apparent interest in a deal left Danes bewildered, with a former prime minister asking if it was a joke. A member of the ruling political bloc in Denmark, which helps run Greenland as an autonomous territory, called it a “terrible idea.”…

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Kenya’s Biggest Bank Seeks Deals as KCB Chases 12% Profit Growth

Kenya’s Biggest Bank Seeks Deals as KCB Chases 12% Profit Growth

NAIROBI (Capital Markets in Africa)  – KCB Group Plc is targeting an increase in full-year earnings of as much as 12% as Kenya’s biggest bank boosts lending and scouts for acquisitions to bolster an African expansion. That’s more than double the pace in the first half as the Nairobi-based lender chases double-digit loans growth for the full year, mainly in the personal, corporate and manufacturing space, Chief Executive Officer Joshua Oigara said. An expansion of KCB’s mobile-banking services…

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