Glencore’s Role in Paradise Papers: What You Need to Know

Glencore’s Role in Paradise Papers: What You Need to Know

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – The activities of Glencore Plc, the world’s biggest commodity trader, are under scrutiny after a massive leak of confidential information from offshore law firm Appleby Global Group Services Limited. Glencore was one of the top clients of Appleby, which even had a “Glencore Room” at its Bermuda office that kept information on the trader’s 107 offshore companies, according to an investigation led by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. Appleby suffered…

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Kenyan Politician Files Petition to Overturn Vote Rerun Result

Kenyan Politician Files Petition to Overturn Vote Rerun Result

NAIROBI (Capital Markets in Africa) A Kenyan politician lodged a petition at the Supreme Court challenging the validity of last month’s repeat presidential elections, arguing the vote breached the law and wasn’t free and fair. The petition was filed by Harun Mwau, a former legislator, the Judiciary’s spokeswoman, Lilian Mueni, said by phone from the capital, Nairobi. The Independent Electoral & Boundaries Commission proceeded with the Oct. 26 vote rerun despite opposition candidate Raila Odinga’s withdrawal. The…

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Traders Aren’t Yet Calling an End to Nigeria’s Naira Problem

Traders Aren’t Yet Calling an End to Nigeria’s Naira Problem

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Nigerian officials are increasingly confident the naira’s troubles are over for good. Some investors disagree. Portfolio inflows have risen in the past three months with crude prices increasing above $60 a barrel and money managers taking heart from a new foreign-exchange trading window, in which the naira has converged with the black-market rate. That prompted central bank Governor Godwin Emefiele and Patience Oniha, the head of the nation’s Debt Management Office, to tell…

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Glencore’s Big Electric Car Bet Carries Plenty of Risk

Glencore’s Big Electric Car Bet Carries Plenty of Risk

KINSHASA (Capital Markets in Africa) – The Democratic Republic of Congo has been presented as a Glencore Plc trump card, but that’s not to say this particular mining play is without risk. On Monday, journalists delving into the so-called Paradise Papers shed more light on Glencore’s activities in the mineral-rich African country, including a loan it made in 2009 to an entity affiliated with controversial Israeli billionaire Dan Gertler.  For reasons of brevity, I won’t…

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Moody’s: Morocco’s diversifying economy and stable policy support positive banking system

Moody’s: Morocco’s diversifying economy and stable policy support positive banking system

RABAT (Capital Markets in Africa) – Moody’s Investors Service (Moody’s) says its outlook for the Moroccan banking system is positive, supported in part by the country’s on-going economic diversification and stable and predictable political and economic policy environment. Moody’s report, “Banking system outlook: Morocco, improving operating environment and rising credit growth support positive outlook”, is available on www.moodys.com. Moody’s subscribers can access this report via the link provided at the end of this press release….

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Diamond Bank Sells West African Units for 61 Million Euros

Diamond Bank Sells West African Units for 61 Million Euros

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Nigerian lender Diamond Bank Plc sold the majority stake in its units in four West African countries as it seeks to shore up capital and focus on the home market. Manzi Finances SA, based in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, bought 97 percent of Diamond Bank’s ownership of units in that country as well as Benin, Togo, and Senegal for 61 million euros ($71 million), according to a filing on Friday to the…

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CME’s Bitcoin Foray Has Three Plausible Outcomes: Aaron Brown

CME’s Bitcoin Foray Has Three Plausible Outcomes: Aaron Brown

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Cryptocurrencies are valued at $182 billion, but probably only a couple of billion dollars of that is actual investment. CME Group announced plans to offer a bitcoin futures contract this year. This brings it in line with Cboe Global Markets, which announced similar plans in August, and LedgerX, which began trading in bitcoin options and day-ahead swaps two weeks ago. These contracts are important steps toward integrating bitcoin with…

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