Kenya Urged to Issue Offshore Shilling Debt to Bolster Currency

Kenya Urged to Issue Offshore Shilling Debt to Bolster Currency

NAIROBI (Capital Markets in Africa) – Kenya should issue local-currency debt outside the country to check depreciation of the shilling, rather than managing the unit, its Capital Markets Authority said. The International Monetary Fund reclassified the shilling from “floating” to “other managed arrangement” in October to reflect the currency’s limited movement due to periodic central bank interventions, saying the unit was overvalued by about 17.5 percent. “There are opportunities for Kenya to consider adopting alternative…

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TUNISIA : Currency to depreciate by 15% to 20% in 2019

TUNISIA : Currency to depreciate by 15% to 20% in 2019

TUNIS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Citi Research indicated that the Tunisian dinar (TND) has been under pressure since early 2018, as the exchange rate depreciated by 20% in 2018. It attributed the weakening of the dinar to the sustained fiscal and current account deficits, as well as to the very limited progress in economic reforms, even though the country has a financial agreement with the International Monetary Fund that is linked to achieving pre-set…

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How a No-Deal Brexit Could Hit U.K. Farmers Both Home and Abroad

How a No-Deal Brexit Could Hit U.K. Farmers Both Home and Abroad

LONDON (Capital Markets in Africa) – U.K. farmers will find it harder to sell their goods abroad while at the same time potentially facing more competition at home under a no-deal Brexit, according to an agricultural advisory group. That’s because World Trade Organization tariffs would make U.K. supplies less attractive for European buyers, and finding new markets quickly for things like lamb would be almost impossible, the U.K.’s Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board said. If Britain…

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EU Economic Weakness Should Push Bloc to Brexit Deal, Fox Says

EU Economic Weakness Should Push Bloc to Brexit Deal, Fox Says

LONDON (Capital Markets in Africa) – Trade Secretary Liam Fox said he’s confident the U.K. can agree a divorce deal with the European Union by the end of next month because the continent’s faltering economies will force the bloc to come to an “accommodation.” Citing Italy entering recession and weakness in the German and French economies, he said the EU 27 should be pushing for a deal.  “This is not a good time to introduce further unnecessary instability into…

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May Sets Out to Win Labour Rebels’ Support Over Brexit Deal

May Sets Out to Win Labour Rebels’ Support Over Brexit Deal

LONDON (Capital Markets in Africa) – Ministers in Theresa May’s government are setting out to woo members of the opposition Labour Party, in the hope that they’ll provide enough votes to get her Brexit deal through. In meetings with Labour members of Parliament considering whether to support the Withdrawal Agreement that May negotiated, ministers including Business Secretary Greg Clark have discussed enhancing British employment rights and environmental protections after Brexit, as well as money for deprived parts of…

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Vodacom Closes South Africa Stores Amid `Please Call Me’ Protest

Vodacom Closes South Africa Stores Amid `Please Call Me’ Protest

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – Vodacom Group Ltd. closed some South African stores on Thursday as protests intensify over the level of compensation the mobile-phone company is prepared to pay an ex-employee who had an idea for a popular call-back service. While Vodacom says it accepts a 2016 court ruling that the company should pay Kenneth Makate for his creation, the two parties are at odds over the correct amount. Makate’s cause has been taken…

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Coca-Cola Eyes Local Pockets, Exports After Nigerian Deal

Coca-Cola Eyes Local Pockets, Exports After Nigerian Deal

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Coca-Cola Co. sees plenty of expansion opportunity in Africa after taking full control of Nigerian juice maker CHI in a deal that underlines its growing emphasis on lower-sugar drinks and emerging markets. The U.S. soft drinks giant on Wednesday acquired the remaining 60 percent of CHI for an undisclosed amount, three years after making an initial investment in the Lagos-based company. The acquisition “gives us the platform that allows us to target…

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