Moody’s Changes Cameroon’s Outlook To Negative, Affirms B2 Rating

Moody’s Changes Cameroon’s Outlook To Negative, Affirms B2 Rating

YAOUNDE (Capital Markets in Africa) – Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) has changed the outlook on the Government of Cameroon’s issuer local and foreign currency ratings to negative from stable and affirmed the B2 ratings. The decision to change the outlook to negative reflects a rising likelihood that Cameroon’s fiscal strength will continue to weaken due to persistent spending pressures to fund its infrastructure investment program to support growth. Recent fiscal overruns and weak financial health…

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African Private Equity Funds raise $700mn in first four months of 2018

African Private Equity Funds raise $700mn in first four months of 2018

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Research provider Preqin indicated that 388 private equity (PE) funds raised a total of $114.6bn to invest in emerging markets (EMs) in 2017, compared to 639 EM-focused PE funds that raised $105.3bn in 2016. The aggregate capital raised in 2017 by EM-focused PE funds represented the second highest level since 2008. Also, the number of PE funds with a primary focus on EMs accounted for 32% of total PE funds, while the…

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Algerian Economy Facing Significant Challenges – IMF Says

Algerian Economy Facing Significant Challenges – IMF Says

ALGIERS (Capital Markets in Africa) – The International Monetary Fund indicated that Algeria continues to face significant challenges because of the sharp decrease in global oil prices since 2014. It noted that Algerian authorities are facing wide fiscal and current account deficits, declining foreign currency reserves and a slowdown in economic activity, despite the considerable fiscal consolidation measures implemented in 2017. It projected real GDP growth to accelerate from 1.6% in 2017 to 3% in 2018…

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Tunisian Risks to Macroeconomic Stability Increase – IMF says

Tunisian Risks to Macroeconomic Stability Increase – IMF says

TUNIS (Capital Markets in Africa) – The International Monetary Fund considered that Tunisian authorities remain committed to the implementation of urgent economic reforms to reduce the country’s macroeconomic and fiscal imbalances. It indicated that the economy showed signs of recovery, with real GDP growing by 2.5% in the first quarter of 2018, its highest level since 2014, supported by strong agricultural production and exports. Also, it noted that the current account deficit narrowed because of a…

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Nigerian Banks’s Capital ratio at 3.4% under high stress scenario

Nigerian Banks’s Capital ratio at 3.4% under high stress scenario

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Moody’s Investors Service conducted a scenario analysis to measure the solvency of Nigerian banks under a base-case scenario and an alternative stress scenario during the 2018-19 period. It noted that the base-case scenario reflects its current macroeconomic forecasts for Nigeria, while the stress scenario measures the banks’ capacity to withstand high stress conditions and includes a set of assumptions for loan and asset growth and income reductions, among other…

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Mali Opposition Vows More Protests After Clashing With Police

Mali Opposition Vows More Protests After Clashing With Police

BAMAKO (Capital Markets in Africa) – Mali’s main opposition alliance said it will continue with protests to demand peaceful and transparent elections next month after police fired teargas to disperse a rally this weekend in the capital, Bamako. At least 16 people including protesters and security staff were hurt on Saturday as opposition supporters rallied at the office of the Alliance for Democracy and Progress coalition. They were demanding better coverage of their campaigning on state…

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Why African Cocoa Growers Are Having an OPEC Moment

Why African Cocoa Growers Are Having an OPEC Moment

ACCRA (Capital Markets in Africa) – The world’s top cocoa producers have long been at the mercy of traders who set cocoa prices thousands of miles away in London and New York. Now the producers are trying to do something about it. West African neighbours Ivory Coast and Ghana, which grow about 60 percent of the world’s cocoa, have outlined wide-ranging plans to cooperate on production and marketing in hopes of gaining more influence over…

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