The Editorial Team |

Banks Bashed in Battle Over South African Financial System

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – New allegations by President Jacob Zuma’s supporters that South Africa’s biggest banks are frustrating efforts to address racial inequality signal an escalation of a battle for control of the nation’s financial system including the Treasury. Protestors from the ruling African National Congress’s youth wing invaded aBarclays Africa Group Ltd. branch on Jan. 26. Then, on Monday, the ANC’s top leaders said the four biggest lenders can’t be allowed to continue dominating…

Nigeria Heads to London, U.S. for First Eurobond Since 2013

Posted on by The Editorial Team

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Nigeria will meet investors this week for its first Eurobond sale in more than three years as Africa’s most populous nation battles an economic contraction and the worst dollar squeeze in almost a decade. Beginning Friday, officials will hold roadshows in London and the U.S. before the proposed issue of 15-year bonds, the country’s longest-maturity dollar notes yet, according to a person familiar with the matter, who is not…

European-Backed Fund Arise Targets $1 Billion of African Assets

Posted on by The Editorial Team

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Arise, the new development-finance venture created from the pooled sub-Saharan African assets of three European lenders, said it plans to buy minority stakes in companies across the continent as part of a strategy to boost assets to $1 billion from $660 million. The company will target sub-Saharan African financial-service providers aimed at retail businesses, small- and medium-sized enterprises, rural areas and people who haven’t previously had access to banks and loans,…

Harmony Gold Ready for Acquisition After Paying Down Debt

Posted on by The Editorial Team

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – Harmony Gold Mining Co., South Africa’s third-largest miner of the metal, said it’s ready to make an acquisition after increasing production and paying off its debt in the six months to December 31. “We’ve identified some targets, we’re working on those targets,” Chief Executive Officer Peter Steenkamp said on a call with reporters Thursday. The purchase will likely be in Africa or Papua New Guinea, he said. Harmony made a profit…

Lufthansa to Suspend Flights to Abuja While Airport Is Closed

Posted on by The Editorial Team

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Deutsche Lufthansa AG became the first airline to announce it will suspend its route to Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, while the airport is closed for six weeks for repairs. Germany’s biggest carrier won’t divert its planes to Kaduna, a city about 140 miles (225 kilometres) away, spokeswoman Mirjam Eberts said by phone on Thursday. She didn’t give a reason for the decision. Lufthansa will continue to fly to Lagos, the commercial hub,…

Kenya Election May Pose Risk to Economy, Raise Tension, IMF Says

Posted on by The Editorial Team

NAIROBI (Capital Markets in Africa) – Kenyan elections may hamper the government’s plans to reduce spending in line with requirements under an International Monetary Fund program, the Washington-based lender said. The vote in East Africa’s biggest economy that’s slated for Aug. 8 could “erode program ownership, delay fiscal consolidation plans, and potentially lead to heightened political instability,” the Washington-based lender said in a statement in its first review of the economy under a $1.5 billion precautionary loan arrangement….

Nigerian Equities Extend Losses Despite New Listing …NSE ASI down 51bps

Posted on by The Editorial Team

LAGOA (Capital Markets in Africa) – The Nigerian bourse closed in the red for the third consecutive trading session as persistent sell-offs in market bellwethers dragged the benchmark index 0.5% southwards to 25,903.55pts, worsening YTD loss to –3.6%. Price depreciation in NESTLE (-3.7%), NIGERIAN BREWERIES (-3.5%) and ZENITH (-2.0%) were the major drag to performance. Accordingly, market capitalisation reduced by N45.7bn to N8.9tn despite the new listing of Med-View Airline Plc (MEDVIEW) which added N14.6bn to…

« 1 … 745 746 747 748 749 … 1,077 »