Raise Intra-Africa Trade to Counter U.S. Effect, World Bank Says

Raise Intra-Africa Trade to Counter U.S. Effect, World Bank Says

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – African nations should consider increasing access to markets within the region to help offset the effects of increased U.S. protectionism, theWorld Bank’s vice president for the continent said. “The region may need to expand market access to absorb the costs arising from the hike in tariffs,” Hafez Ghanem said in an interview Thursday in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja. “This would include strengthening trade among Africa countries.” Escalating trade tensions are threatening to…

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Mnangagwa Wins Zimbabwe’s Presidency After Deadly Protests

Mnangagwa Wins Zimbabwe’s Presidency After Deadly Protests

HARARE (Capital Markets in Africa) – Emmerson Mnangagwa won Zimbabwe’s presidential election, a victory overshadowed by deadly protests, opposition allegations of rigging and criticism by observers that the contest was flawed. The controversy surrounding the vote may undermine efforts to reunify the southern African nation and rebuild an economy battered by almost two decades of misrule under Robert Mugabe, who was forced to quit in November. The country also risks a repeat of unrest that claimed six…

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Bitcoin Needs to Hit $213,000 to Replace Money Supply, UBS Says

Bitcoin Needs to Hit $213,000 to Replace Money Supply, UBS Says

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Bitcoin evangelists preach that the virtual currency will one day supplant the dollar. UBS says they may have to wait a while since it can’t be considered money or even a viable asset class yet. For Bitcoin to replace U.S. money supply — paper bills, coins, travelers’ checks and the like — its price could need to hit nearly $213,000, or its network’s processing capabilities would need to dramatically improve, a…

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Bitcoin Whale’s Bad Trade Leaves Counterparties Holding the Bag

Bitcoin Whale’s Bad Trade Leaves Counterparties Holding the Bag

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – A massive wrong-way bet on Bitcoin left an unidentified futures trader unable to cover losses, burning counterparties and threatening to dent confidence in one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency venues. The long position in Bitcoin futures listed on OKEx, a Hong Kong-based exchange, had a notional value of about $416 million, according to an OKEx statement on Friday and data compiled by Bloomberg. OKEx moved to liquidate the position on Tuesday, but…

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Africa is a buoyant continent which is rising

Africa is a buoyant continent which is rising

Africa is a buoyant continent which is rising, however, it suffers from large gaps in infrastructure and public finance, and on its own will not be able to fill these gaps. As an example, 35% of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa don’t have access to electricity. Private investments in the form of Private Equity are helping the continent to bridge these gaps to provide people with access to basic infrastructure needs. Those Private Equity firms…

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After Decade in Jail, Bemba Returns to Seek Congo Presidency

After Decade in Jail, Bemba Returns to Seek Congo Presidency

KINSHASA (Capital Markets in Africa) – Opposition leader Jean-Pierre Bemba returned to the Democratic Republic of Congo to prepare his latest bid for the presidency, after spending the past 10 years in prison. A former vice president, Bemba is one of four key opposition figures expected to register to compete in elections scheduled for December. He was acquitted of war crimes in the International Criminal Court in June and released after a decade of detention in The…

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South Africa MPC May Adjust Policy if Price Risks Materialize

South Africa MPC May Adjust Policy if Price Risks Materialize

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – The South African Reserve Bank will adjust monetary policy to keep inflation expectations anchored close to 4.5 percent if price risks materialize, Deputy Governor Daniel Mminele said. The rand is likely to continue to be vulnerable due to the change in sentiment toward emerging markets and rising trade tensions, he said. That and uncertainty around the speed at which electricity prices will increase are upside risks to inflation, Mminele said in a copy…

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