Africa’s Central Banks Reaction Amid Inflation and Growth Concerns

Africa’s Central Banks Reaction Amid Inflation and Growth Concerns

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Angola’s central bank left its benchmark BNA rate at 16.0% on 30th January 2017. The National Bank of Angola (BNA), which raised its rate 500 basis points last year – most recently in June – to curb inflation, added its monetary policy committee had also taken note of the trend of declining monetary indicators.  Botswana’s central bank left its benchmark lending rate unchanged at 5.5% on 28th February 2017, saying…

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Which Path Africa’s Inflation Rate is Taking in January?

Which Path Africa’s Inflation Rate is Taking in January?

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Angola’s inflation slowed to 40.39% year-on-year in January from 41.95% in December, data from the national statistics agency showed. Prices increases on a month-on-month basis rose 2.29% in January compared to 2.17% previously.  Botswana’s consumer inflation inched up to 3.1% year-on-year in January from 3.0% in December, data from the statistics office showed. Prices rose 0.4% month-on-month compared to 0.1% previously.  Burundi’s year-on-year inflation jumped to 12.9% in January…

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Tanzania central bank asks commercial banks to cut lending rates

Tanzania central bank asks commercial banks to cut lending rates

DAR ES SALAAM (Capital Markets in Africa) – Tanzania’s central bank has asked commercial banks to consider lowering their lending rates to help spark credit growth in east Africa’s second-largest economy. Bank of Tanzania cut its discount rate to 12 percent from 16 percent effectively from March 6, the first time it has lowered borrowing costs since 2013, after a steep drop in private-sector credit growth last year. There were expectations that the move “will enhance…

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Nigerian Breweries Plc – Staying resilient through tough economic times

Nigerian Breweries Plc – Staying resilient through tough economic times

Robust value presence will still be a key driver of topline growth in 2017: The strategy to increase its product offerings in the affordable segments (mainstream and discount) through its merger with Consolidated Breweries in December 2014 proved to be a step in the right direction. Given the weak macroeconomic climate of 2016, many consumers increasingly down-traded to affordable beer brands as a result of lower purchasing power. On the back of its improved offering in…

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Nigeria to Cut Stake in Oil Assets Under Buhari’s Growth Map

Nigeria to Cut Stake in Oil Assets Under Buhari’s Growth Map

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Nigeria plans to sell portions of its oil assets to help fund President Muhammadu Buhari’s four-year program to lift the economy from its worst slump in a quarter century and create 15 million jobs. Buhari proposes in a 2017-2020 economic blueprint to reduce the government’s stake in joint-venture oil assets and other holdings. Selling them will “optimize their efficiency and reduce fiscal burden on the government,” according to the proposal posted on the…

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Nigerian Regulator Seeks to Block Takeover of Etisalat Unit

Nigerian Regulator Seeks to Block Takeover of Etisalat Unit

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Nigeria’s telecommunications regulator is seeking to block a potential takeover of Emirates Telecommunications Corp.’s unit in the country by a group of banks after the mobile-phone operator missed repayments on a $1.2 billion syndicated loan. The Nigerian Communications Commission has urged the central bank to intervene in the matter because it is concerned over the fate of Etisalat Nigeria’s more than 20 million subscribers in the country, the Abuja-based NCC said in an…

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StanChart Said to Revamp Investment Banking to Boost Revenue

StanChart Said to Revamp Investment Banking to Boost Revenue

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – Standard Chartered Plc has revamped its investment banking division in a push to boost income from existing clients, as the Asia-focused lender attempts to restore revenue growth after years of missing targets, two people familiar with the move said. Paul Skelton, who heads global banking, has divided his unit into five industry segments and five regions to simplify and improve relationships with clients, said the people, who asked not to…

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