Zimbabwe Banks Said to Trade $7.7 Million on Interbank Market

Zimbabwe Banks Said to Trade $7.7 Million on Interbank Market

HARARE (Capital Markets in Africa) – Zimbabwean banks traded $7.7 million since the central bank effectively created a new currency that’s its allowing to be bought and sold on an interbank market, a person familiar with the matter said. The amount is part of an initial allocation of $25 million that the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe is providing to commercial banks to trade, the person said, declining to be identified because the information isn’t public….

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How a `Giant Ponzi Scheme’ Destroyed a Nation’s Economy

How a `Giant Ponzi Scheme’ Destroyed a Nation’s Economy

HARARE (Capital Markets in Africa) – Almost two decades of profligate monetary policy has destroyed Zimbabwe’s economy and fueled rampant inflation, decimating the savings of its people twice. Hyperinflation of as much as 500 billion percent in 2008 made savings worthless and led to the abolition of the local currency in favor of the dollar the following year. In 2016, former President Robert Mugabe’s cash-strapped government introduced securities known as bond notes that it insisted traded…

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Kenya May Arrest Two Ministers Over Loss of Dam Funds, Star Says

Kenya May Arrest Two Ministers Over Loss of Dam Funds, Star Says

NAIROBI (Capital Markets in AfricaA) – At least two Kenyan cabinet secretaries are facing arrest for their alleged role in two dam projects through which public funds were misappropriated, the Star reported, citing people it didn’t identify. The cabinet secretaries in the East African nation could face charges of negligence or conspiracy to steal public funds meant for construction of the dams in the Rift Valley, the Nairobi-based newspaper said Thursday. The two dam projects…

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Egypt Is a Jewel in the Crown for Emerging-Market Bond Investors

Egypt Is a Jewel in the Crown for Emerging-Market Bond Investors

CAIRO (Capital Markets in AfricaA) – Egyptian bonds have plenty of appeal as economic reforms, support from the International Monetary Fund, and a surprise interest-rate cut offer something for investors at home and abroad. Local-currency notes have returned 5 percent in February, the best gain in emerging markets, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. They’ve also posted the best year-to-date and one-year performance, while the currency has recovered to its strongest level against the dollar in…

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Brexit Uncertainty Hits U.K. House Prices, Business Confidence

Brexit Uncertainty Hits U.K. House Prices, Business Confidence

LONDON (Capital Markets in AfricaA) – Brexit continues to take a toll on the U.K., with new figures Thursday showing a fall in business confidence and continued weakness in the property market. House price-growth remained tepid in February, with values rising just 0.4 percent from a year earlier, according to Nationwide Building Society. A separate report from Lloyds showed optimism among firms at a seven-year low, while GfK said consumer confidence is still close to the weakest…

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Dangote CFO Quits Two Weeks After Appointment of Operations Head

Dangote CFO Quits Two Weeks After Appointment of Operations Head

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Dangote Cement Plc Chief Financial Officer Brian Eganresigned, two weeks after Africa’s biggest producer of the building material created a second CFO position. Egan, 55, is stepping down with immediate effect and will return to Ireland, the company said in a statement Thursday on the Nigerian Stock Exchange’s website. Dangote said Feb. 13 it hired Guillaume Moyen as CFO for operations. Moyen, who joined from United Arab Emirates-based OLA Energy, was to report…

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South Africa’s Gordhan Says Graft Put State Firms `on Their Knees’

South Africa’s Gordhan Says Graft Put State Firms `on Their Knees’

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa)- South African state companies have been brought to their knees by graft, according to Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan. At least seven state companies are “either on their knees or touching carpet” as institutions were damaged due to so-called state capture, Gordhan said Thursday at a conference in Johannesburg. As much as 500 billion rand ($36 billion) probably left South Africa due to state capture, he said, using a local term…

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