Oil Output Cuts `Only Viable Option’ for Market, OPEC Head Says

Oil Output Cuts `Only Viable Option’ for Market, OPEC Head Says

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – The oil market is re-balancing at a quickening pace and production cuts are the “only viable option” to restore stability, OPEC Secretary-General Mohammad Barkindo said.    The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries should decide at its meeting later this month whether or not to extend the cuts, United Arab Emirates Energy Minister Suhail Al Mazrouei said in a speech at a conference in Abu Dhabi. Neighbouring Oman backs prolonging the output limits beyond March and sees…

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South Africa Budget Head Resigns Amid Education-Funding Spat

South Africa Budget Head Resigns Amid Education-Funding Spat

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – The head of South Africa’s budget office, Michael Sachs, resigned amid speculation President Jacob Zuma is bypassing the National Treasury to implement plans for free university education. Sachs, who headed the office since November 2013, is the third senior Treasury official to leave since Zuma appointed Malusi Gigaba to replace Pravin Gordhanas finance minister in March. Sachs won’t be leaving immediately, “to ensure a proper handover to another senior official and to allow for…

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Factions Threaten South Africa’s ANC Leadership Conference Plans

Factions Threaten South Africa’s ANC Leadership Conference Plans

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – South Africa’s ruling party is battling to calm internal divisions that are threatening to disrupt preparations for its national conference next month as factions engage in a bitter fight over who will replace President Jacob Zuma as its leader. The African National Congress’s National Executive Committee decided on Monday to confirm the leadership of the Eastern Cape province after a disputed conference in that region in September, according to two…

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The International Islamic Banking Summit Africa: Djibouti 2017 opened today with more than 250 Islamic finance leaders

The International Islamic Banking Summit Africa: Djibouti 2017 opened today with more than 250 Islamic finance leaders seeking to capitalize on the surge in new Sukuk opportunities across Africa  Held under the Patronage of the President of the Republic of Djibouti and hosted by The Central Bank of Djibouti, the International Islamic Banking Summit Africa 2017 convened global industry leaders to boost economic development and facilitate greater trade and investment flows between Africa, the OIC…

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Ghana to Cut $2.2 Billion Bill With Farm Support, President Says

Ghana to Cut $2.2 Billion Bill With Farm Support, President Says

ACCRA (Capital Markets in Africa)- Ghana has a target of supporting one million farmers in the next four years with plans to invest in agriculture as the West African nation seeks to increase trade and cut its reliance on food imports that cost about $2.2 billion annually. While Ghana is the world’s second-biggest cocoa producer, it imports more than two-thirds of the staples such as wheat and rice that it needs, according to the United Nations’…

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Kenya Government Takes Control of Kenya Airways in Debt Swap

Kenya Government Takes Control of Kenya Airways in Debt Swap

NAIROBI (Capital Markets in Africa) – Kenya’s government and domestic lenders agreed to convert $405.3 million of Kenya Airways Plc debt into equity, giving the state a controlling stake and diluting other shareholders including Air France-KLM. The government, which has given Kenya Airways shilling and U.S.-dollar loans totaling $238.1 million, will increase its stake to 48.9 percent from 29.8 percent, according to statements published in the Nairobi-based Standard newspaper on Monday. Lenders owed $217.2 million will convert…

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Bitcoin Cash: The Digital Cousin Disrupting Cryptocurrencies

Bitcoin Cash: The Digital Cousin Disrupting Cryptocurrencies

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Just when you thought you had a handle on the new-fangled crypto craze, here comes bitcoin cash. Bitcoin’s lesser-known cousin, the so-called cash version has disrupted the $200 billion market and over the weekend got close to overtaking ethereum as the second-biggest cryptocurrency by market capitalization. The main difference between bitcoin and bitcoin cash is the block size. A block is equivalent to a file storing data on approved transactions, which…

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