Africa’s Biggest Copper Mine Hit by Zambian Power Restrictions

Africa’s Biggest Copper Mine Hit by Zambian Power Restrictions

LUSAKA (Capital Markets in Africa) – Zambia is cutting power to mines including Africa’s biggest copper site, the Kansanshi pit owned by First Quantum Minerals Ltd., escalating a fight over tariffs. “They have still got some significant amount of power for them to operate, but obviously their operations will not be at 100 percent because of the power restrictions,” Energy Minister David Mabumba told reporters Tuesday in Lusaka, the capital. Glencore Plc has said it halted production…

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Egypt’s Quarterly Tourism Revenue Triples as FX Crisis Eases

Egypt’s Quarterly Tourism Revenue Triples as FX Crisis Eases

CAIRO (Capital Markets in Africa) – Egypt’s tourism receipts almost tripled and worker remittances rose in the last three months of its fiscal year, marking another step in the country’s economic recovery from a crippling dollar shortage. Tourism revenue rose to $1.5 billion in the fourth quarter that ended June 30, from $510 million in the same period a year ago, according to initial central bank data that it shared with Bloomberg. Full-year receipts rose 16…

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Bitcoin Surges Past $4,000 as Speed Breakthrough to Fuel Spread

Bitcoin Surges Past $4,000 as Speed Breakthrough to Fuel Spread

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Bitcoin soared past $4,000 for the first time on growing optimism faster transaction times will hasten the spread of the cryptocurrency. The largest digital tender jumped to a peak of $4,298 Monday, a gain of nearly 20 percent since Friday, after a plan to quicken trade execution by moving some data off the main network was activated last week. The solution — termed SegWit2x — had been so contentious that…

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Moody’s Downgrades Namibia’s rating to Ba1, maintains negative outlook

Moody’s Downgrades Namibia’s rating to Ba1, maintains negative outlook

WINDHOEK (Capital Markets in Africa) – Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) has today downgraded Namibia’s long-term senior unsecured bond and issuer ratings to Ba1 from Baa3 and maintained the negative outlook. The key factors for downgrading the rating are: Erosion of Namibia’s fiscal strength due to sizeable fiscal imbalances and an increasing debt burden Limited institutional capacity to manage shocks and address long-term structural fiscal rigidities Risk of renewed government liquidity pressures in the coming years…

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With No ‘JPMorgan of Bitcoin,’ Exchanges Struggle to Win Trades

With No ‘JPMorgan of Bitcoin,’ Exchanges Struggle to Win Trades

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Bitcoin needs “Downtown” Josh Brown more than he needs bitcoin. Brown, the chief executive officer of Ritholtz Wealth Management and author of a popular finance blog, has long been sceptical of the digital currency. He finally bought some, he said, “because the goddamn thing won’t go away.” Bobby Lee, BTCC co-founder and chief executive officer, discusses the outlook for cryptocurrencies. Still, Brown, who helps manage half a billion dollars, isn’t really a convert…

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FinTech is Accelerating the Digital Transformation of Banking in Africa

FinTech is Accelerating the Digital Transformation of Banking in Africa

Due to their potent blend of trail‐blazing technology and disruptive innovation, FinTech players have the ability to accelerate the digital transformation of financial services in Africa and, in turn, further spur incumbent banks to rapidly ramp‐up their own innovation initiatives to meet the financial needs of under‐served markets across the continent. August 2017, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: FinTech players are increasingly becoming an important part of the fabric of Africa’s financial services ecosystem and the leading…

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Mozambique Central Bank Trims Rates for Second Time This Year

Mozambique Central Bank Trims Rates for Second Time This Year

MAPUTO (Capital Markets in Africa) – Mozambique’s central bank cut rates for the second time this year as price growth continued to moderate. The Monetary Policy Committee reduced the permanent lending facility rate to 22.5 percent from 22.75 percent, Governor Rogerio Zandamela said in a statement on the Maputo-based bank’s website. Inflation slowed to 16.2 percent in July, the lowest since April 2016, having peaked at 26.8 percent in November. “The prevalence of risks to the inflation outlook requires…

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