The Editorial Team

Diamond’s Atlas Mara Is Said to Get Approaches for Africa Assets

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) — Atlas Mara Ltd., the pan-African banking group started by Bob Diamond, has drawn interest from Nigerian and Middle Eastern lenders for its remaining assets on the continent, according to people familiar with the matter. The London-listed group has received a number of approaches for its 49.97% holding in Lagos-based Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, the people said, asking not to be identified as the talks are private. Nigeria’s Zenith Bank Plc and Access…

‘Worse Than Brexit’: Scottish Independence Weighs on U.K. Assets

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LONDON (Capital Markets in Africa) — A week that could set in motion the eventual collapse of the 314-year union between England and Scotland is concentrating City trading desks on market disasters ahead. As Scots enter a May 6 vote pitched on whether there should be a second independence referendum, fund managers and sell-side strategists see potential for massive chaos across the U.K.’s economic landscape in the years to come. Yet in an echo of…

Judge Says Giant Ship That Blocked Suez Can’t Leave Canal Yet

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CAIRO (Capital Markets in Africa) — An Egyptian court upheld a ruling preventing the giant container ship that blocked the Suez Canal from leaving the country, after authorities sought more than $900 million in compensation from the owners. The decision was announced Tuesday by a court in the canal-side city of Ismailia, following a legal appeal. The 400-meter-long Ever Given is owned by Japan’s Shoei Kisen Kaisha Ltd. and was being chartered by Taiwan’s Evergreen Line when…

Nigeria’s Spending Structure Unsustainable, Budget Head Says

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LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) — Nigeria’s current trend of spending more money on running the government than on building new infrastructure is unsustainable, the country’s top budget oversight official said. Low revenue collection and high recurrent costs have resulted in actual capital expenditure below two trillion naira ($4.88 billion) a year for a decade, Ben Akabueze, director-general of the Budget Office, said Tuesday in a virtual presentation. “Hence, the investments required to bridge the infrastructure…

Bank of England Weighs When to Taper Its Stimulus as U.K. Economy Rebounds

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LONDON (Capital Markets in Africa) — The U.K.’s economic rebound from the pandemic is already fueling speculation that Bank of England policy makers this week will start discussing how and when they can ease their foot off the stimulus pedal. The nine-member Monetary Policy Committee will maintain its target for 150 billion pounds ($209 billion) of bond purchases this year, a survey of economists shows. Some investors expect officials to slow the pace of buying…

Boris Johnson Predicts Lockdown Ending June 21 as He Seeks Votes

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LONDON (Capital Markets in Africa) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said coronavirus lockdown rules are set to be scrapped in seven weeks’ time, as he hailed the U.K.’s successful vaccine rollout ahead of key elections this week. On the campaign trail, Johnson said the pandemic data was likely to allow people in England to stay overnight with friends or relations, with indoor hospitality able to reopen from May 17. Remaining social distancing rules are also likely…

Bill and Melinda Gates to Divorce With $146 Billion at Stake

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LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) — Bill and Melinda Gates, who for decades have overseen one of history’s greatest fortunes and philanthropic operations, said they plan to divorce. The announcement Monday that the couple is splitting after 27 years of marriage has the power to ripple through the technology industry, a vast portfolio of business and real estate holdings and into the realms of global health, climate change policy and social issues including equality for…

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