The Editorial Team |

Political Crisis With No Clear End Grinds Down Kenya Economy

NAIROBI (Capital Markets in Africa) – Joyce Njeri stands outside her clothes boutique in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, trying to entice a handful of passers-by to look at the clothes she has for sale. There aren’t many takers. Commerce in Nairobi’s central business district already started tailing off before presidential elections on Aug. 8 that the Supreme Court annulled following vote-rigging allegations. It’s slowed dramatically during the twice-weekly protests the opposition called to demand an overhaul…

Nigerian Bank Just Sold Most Expensive Emerging-Market Bond

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LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Nigeria’s Fidelity Bank Plc sold the highest-yielding Eurobond from emerging markets this year, joining a rush for issuance before higher U.S. interest rates push up borrowing costs. The mid-sized Lagos-based lender issued $400 million of five-year securities with a 10.75 percent yield on Wednesday, according to a person familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified. The deal initially had guidance of about 11 percent, said the person. Fidelity is the…

Egypt’s $18 Billion Debt Inflows Seen Peaking as Rate Cut Looms

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CAIRO (Capital Markets in Africa) – Foreign investors may be finally curbing their enthusiasm for Egyptian local-currency debt. After almost a year and $18 billion of purchases, some investors have allocated all they can to Egypt. The inflows from foreign funds are still growing, but the pace has slowed to an average of 2 percent a week since mid-August, down from 8 percent, as policy makers signaled they may lower record interest rates once inflation eases. The surge…

Congo Suspends Insurance Regulator Head, Stymying Industry Plans

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KINSHASA (Capital Markets in Africa) – The Democratic Republic of Congo suspended the head of the newly established insurance regulator for financial mismanagement, dealing a setback to the long-awaited liberalization of the industry. Finance Minister Henri Yav Mulang wrote to Insurance Regulatory Authority Managing Director Eric Mboma on Oct. 7 informing him that an audit had found him “guilty of several acts characteristic of bad management.” The findings were likely to result in disciplinary action,…

Ghana Preparing $1.4 Billion Bond Sale to Clear Energy Debt

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ACCRA (Capital Markets in Africa) – Ghana will hold roadshows in the U.S. and London next week to sell 6 billion cedis ($1.4 billion) in local-currency debt to clear arrears owed to banks by state-owned electricity and petroleum utilities, according to Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta. The sale is the first tranche of a plan to sell as much as 10 billion cedis in bonds through a special-purpose vehicle and backed by a tax on the sale of…

Debt Management Should Be Priority for Zambia, Kalyalya Says

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LUSAKA (Capital Markets in Africa) – Zambia must prioritize its debt management to protect the economy from a surge in borrowing costs, central bank Governor Denny Kalyalya said. “That’s one area that we really need to put a hand on so that it doesn’t overheat the economy,” Kalyalya said in an interview Wednesday in Washington. “If that happens then all these interest rates we’re talking about will go up very significantly.” Ballooning debt levels are key to negotiations…

CRH Is Said Among Firms Mulling Bid for South Africa’s PPC

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LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – CRH Plc is among companies considering a counter bid for PPC Limited that could trump an offer by Canada’s Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd., according to people familiar with the matter, adding a potential new twist to the battle for South Africa’s largest cement maker. The Irish building-materials supplier has held early deliberations about pursuing an acquisition of the Johannesburg-based company, said the people, who asked not to be identified as the plans aren’t public….

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