Reserve Bank of Malawi slashes policy rate to 22 percent

Reserve Bank of Malawi slashes policy rate to 22 percent

LILONGWE (Capital Markets in Africa) – The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of Malawi on Friday 24th March 2017, agreed to cut the indicative cost of money, technically known as the policy rate, by 200 basis points from 24 percent to 22 percent, a development buoyed by a sharp fall in inflation. It is the second time in five months that the monetary authorities have slashed the policy rate following a 300…

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USTDA Connects U.S. Industry To Power Ghana Solar Energy

USTDA Connects U.S. Industry To Power Ghana Solar Energy

ACCRA (Capital Markets in Africa) – The U.S. Trade and Development Agency awarded a grant today to the Ghanaian company, Buipe Solar Limited, in support of a feasibility study for a 20 megawatt solar photovoltaic plant in northern Ghana. Ghana has tremendous solar energy potential, and this project will help the country capitalize on that potential. The solar plant will produce affordable energy while diversifying the country’s energy supply, making it more resilient. Buipe Solar…

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Nigerian Senate Approves Sale of Extra $500 Million Eurobond

Nigerian Senate Approves Sale of Extra $500 Million Eurobond

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Nigeria’s senate approved a plan on Wednesday for the issuance of an additional $500 million of Eurobonds after demand for the sale of $1 billion of debt securities in February exceeded supply. The West African nation wants to “take advantage of favorable market conditions,” the government said on its Twitter account. The proceeds from the sale will fund projects in last year’s budget, it said. Nigeria has sought other sources…

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Kenya sells bond over mobile phones in world first

Kenya sells bond over mobile phones in world first

NAIROBI (Capital Markets in Africa) – Kenyans can now buy government bonds using only their mobile phones. The nation’s Treasury on Thursday began selling 150 million shillings ($1.5 million) of three-year debt using a platform known as M-Akiba, the first such product across East Africa. “For the first time we will provide government securities to the entire population,” Central Bank Governor Patrick Njoroge said at a briefing in the capital, Nairobi. “This will dramatically change the savings…

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Ivory Coast to Sell First Eurobond Since 2015, Says Minister

Ivory Coast to Sell First Eurobond Since 2015, Says Minister

ABIDJAN (Capital Markets in Africa) – Ivory Coast will soon sell Eurobonds in the West African nation’s first issuance of international debt since 2015, said Finance Minister Adama Kone. The offering will start in the “coming days,” Kone said in comments after a cabinet meeting in the commercial capital, Abidjan. He declined to comment on the sale amount or maturity of the debt. The announcement comes as cocoa prices have fallen by more than a third…

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Nigerian Banks Continue To Face Challenges Amidst Foreign Currency Shortage

Nigerian Banks Continue To Face Challenges Amidst Foreign Currency Shortage

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Fitch Ratings says Nigerian banks will continue to face challenges this year, following an extremely difficult 2016. Banks faced multiple threats from the operating environment in 2016, including Nigeria sliding into recession, the economy continuing to suffer from low oil prices and severe shortages of foreign currency (FC). Consequently banks struggled with declining operating profitability (excluding translation gains), sluggish credit growth, fast asset quality deterioration, tight FC liquidity and…

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Uganda says seeking $500 million loan from China for roads in oil area

Uganda says seeking $500 million loan from China for roads in oil area

KAMPALA (Capital Markets in Africa) – Uganda says it has asked China for a $500 million loan to help build almost 600 km (360 miles) of roads in the country’s oil-rich west, amid criticism over heavy borrowing that has ballooned the country’s debt. Uganda has discovered an estimated 6.5 billion barrels of crude reserves on its Albertine rift basin along the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, lack of infrastructure, such as roads…

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