South Africa Inflation Target Could Be Even Lower, Kganyago Says

South Africa Inflation Target Could Be Even Lower, Kganyago Says

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – Fresh from being reappointed for another five years, South African Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago made it clear that he will keep on pursuing his mandate of low inflation and suggested the current target band may even be too high. This comes after Kganyago and the central bank came under renewed criticism in recent months from labor unions and some senior members of the ruling party who want borrowing…

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Kenyan President Picks Little-Known Minister as Treasury Head

Kenyan President Picks Little-Known Minister as Treasury Head

NAIROBI (Capital Markets in Africa) – Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed a little-known minister as acting head of the Treasury a day after finance minister Henry Rotich was charged with corruption. Ukur Yatani Kanacho, a former governor of the northern county of Marsabit, will also retain his role as the labor and protection minister, a position he’s held since February 2018. Kenyatta also appointed Julius Monzi Muia as principal secretary at the Treasury. He previously held a…

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Nigeria at Risk of Losing $15 Billion of Crisis-Era Bad Loans

Nigeria at Risk of Losing $15 Billion of Crisis-Era Bad Loans

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Nigeria is facing the risk of never recovering about 5.5 trillion naira ($15 billion) of bad loans taken over during a banking crisis more than a decade ago. That is how much the state-owned Asset Management Corp., or Amcon, still has to collect from Nigerian companies that have failed to repay the debts they once owed lenders, Chief Executive Officer Ahmed Kuru said at a conference in Lagos on Wednesday. Delays in…

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Missing Their Inflation Goals, Central Banks Study Moving Posts

Missing Their Inflation Goals, Central Banks Study Moving Posts

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Struggling to hit their targets for inflation, central banks around the world are debating whether they need to alter what they’re aiming for. From the Federal Reserve to the European Central Bank, officials are studying their current strategies and whether they need to be changed to revive inflation as it keeps undershooting the levels deemed to represent price stability. Here’s a rundown of what some central banks are talking about: Federal Reserve…

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South Africa’s Credit Risk Falls as Investors Assess Eskom Plan

South Africa’s Credit Risk Falls as Investors Assess Eskom Plan

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – A pocket-busting rescue plan for Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd. is better than no plan at all. That seems to be the message from investors after Finance Minister Tito Mboweni on Tuesday unveiled a second multi-billion dollar bailout for the struggling state-owned electricity company. That may force the cash-strapped government to increase borrowing and taxes, putting the nation’s credit rating at risk. Even so, the cost of insuring South Africa’s government debt against default gapped lower…

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When Nigerian Bond Yields Are at 14% Nobody Wants Equities

When Nigerian Bond Yields Are at 14% Nobody Wants Equities

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Nigerian stocks have next to no chance of success when they’re competing for capital against one of the emerging world’s highest bond yields. Weighed down by concern over Nigeria’s economic growth, the prospect of rising bad loans at banks and thinning profit margins, stock inflows have slowed, despite valuations near the cheapest since 2011. That contrasts with the billions pouring into government bonds, which yield 14% on average. Even though Nigerian stocks…

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Tullow Reduces Oil-Production Outlook Again on Ghana Faults

Tullow Reduces Oil-Production Outlook Again on Ghana Faults

ACCRA (Capital Markets in Africa) – Tullow Oil Plc reduced its 2019 production forecast for the second time in three months as technical glitches in Ghana continued to cast a shadow. Full-year output is now seen at 89,000 to 93,000 barrels of oil a day, reflecting delays in well completion at the African country’s TEN project, Tullow said Wednesday. It’s a further setback for a company that relies on the continent for more than 90% of…

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