To Borrow $500 Million, Zimbabwe Pledges Mine That Doesn’t Exist

To Borrow $500 Million, Zimbabwe Pledges Mine That Doesn’t Exist

HARARE (Capital Markets in Africa) – The collateral for African Export-Import Bank’s $500 million loan to Zimbabwe is a mine that hasn’t been dug yet, people familiar with the matter said. The loan, which will be paid over four years when production starts, is backed by a mine that Great Dyke Investments, a venture between Russian investors and the Zimbabwean military, plans to build at a cost of $4 billion, the people said. The mine,…

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Oil Extends Losses on Rising U.S. Inventories and Trade Tension

Oil Extends Losses on Rising U.S. Inventories and Trade Tension

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Oil extended losses after a surprise jump in American crude inventories alleviated concerns over a supply crunch, while fears of a full-blown trade war between the U.S. and China weighed on the outlook for demand. Futures fell as much as 1% in New York after tumbling 2.7% on Wednesday, the biggest drop in almost three weeks. American stockpiles rose by 4.7 million barrels last week to the highest level since mid-2017, despite expectations for…

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World’s Top Carry Trade Here to Stay as Egypt Seen Holding Rates

World’s Top Carry Trade Here to Stay as Egypt Seen Holding Rates

CAIRO (Capital Markets in Africa) – Foreign investors came to Egypt for what Renaissance Capital said could be the “best reform story” in emerging markets and stayed for this year’s biggest carry-trade return. Just one cut in interest rates by Egypt in over a year, coupled with a dovish shift by global central banks, has powered gains in the pound that are second only to Russia’s ruble among all currencies tracked by Bloomberg in 2019. With the…

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A Copper Mining Lesson From Zambia: History Repeats Itself

A Copper Mining Lesson From Zambia: History Repeats Itself

HARARE (Capital Markets in Africa) – Vedanta Resources Ltd. is learning the hard way that when it comes to Zambia’s copper-mining industry, history tends to repeat itself. Fifty years ago, Zambia’s first post-independence leader Kenneth Kaundanationalized mines owned by Anglo American Plc and Roan Selection Trust to rally his political supporters. Now populist President Edgar Lungu is taking legal steps to take over the operations of Vedanta’s Konkola Copper Mines, alleging the unit lied about expansion plans and cheated on taxes. With…

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Ramaphosa Elected South Africa President as Deputy’s Post Unsure

Ramaphosa Elected South Africa President as Deputy’s Post Unsure

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – Cyril Ramaphosa was elected unopposed as South Africa’s president by the National Assembly on Wednesday, while his deputy’s future was in doubt after claims from the ruling African National Congress of wrongdoing. Ramaphosa, who has vowed to clean up the government after his predecessor Jacob Zuma’s scandal-marred nine-year rule, is due to name a new cabinet after his May 25 inauguration following the ANC’s election victory this month. Under the constitution,…

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Full-Blown Trade War Quickly Shifting From Risk to Baseline

Full-Blown Trade War Quickly Shifting From Risk to Baseline

NEW YORK (Capital Markets in Afrioca) – After months of predicting a trade deal between the world’s two largest economies, economists at some of the biggest financial institutions are growing increasingly pessimistic. Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Nomura Holdings Inc. and JPMorgan Chase and Co. are among those that have rewritten their forecasts as U.S. President Donald Trump threatens to impose a 25% tariffs on around $300 billion of additional Chinese imports. Analysts at Nomura have made that…

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China Urges U.S. to Fix ‘Wrong Practices’ to Resume Trade Talks

China Urges U.S. to Fix ‘Wrong Practices’ to Resume Trade Talks

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Afrioca) – China blamed Washington for wrecking trade talks and insisted the U.S. must alter its “wrong practices” before negotiations can resume, leaving the next move to President Donald Trump as financial markets slump amid prospects for a prolonged dispute. “China’s stance on the talks has been clear — if the U.S. wants to resume talks, they should show sincerity and correct their wrong practices,” ministry spokesman Gao Feng said in Beijing on Thursday. “Only…

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