Nigerian Equity Markets | 24 May 2016: Market Closes Positive, Up 80bps… MPC Embraces Flexibility

Nigerian Equity Markets | 24 May 2016: Market Closes Positive, Up 80bps… MPC Embraces Flexibility

LAGOS, Nigeria, Capital Markets in Africa: As investors awaited the outcome of the MPC meeting, trading across the board was mostly cautious as marginal gains were offset by marginal losses until a mild rally that was recorded in market bellwethers in the final trading minutes ensured a positive close for the day. Consequently, the All Share Index rose 0.8% to settle at 27,231.50 points. Investors gained N74.0bn as market capitalisation rose to N9.4tn. Price appreciation in…

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Nigerian Monetary Policy Committee Embraces Flexibility — Afrinvest

Nigerian Monetary Policy Committee Embraces Flexibility — Afrinvest

LAGOS, Nigeria, Capital Markets in Africa: The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) at the conclusion of its 3rd meeting for the year decided to hold all rates unchanged. More specifically, the Committee decided to;  Retain the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) at 12.0% Maintain the asymmetric corridor around the MPR at +200/-500bps Retain Cash Reserves Ratio (CRR) at 22.5% Keep the Liquidity Ratio (LR) at 30.0% Adopt flexibility of the interbank exchange rate market with a small…

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An African Telecom Success Frays Amid Record Fine in Nigeria

An African Telecom Success Frays Amid Record Fine in Nigeria

Johannesburg, South Africa, Capital Markets in Africa: Phuthuma Nhleko spent more than a decade building MTN Group Ltd. into Africa’s biggest wireless operator by rushing into markets few rivals would touch, from Syria to Afghanistan to South Sudan. Now his appetite for risk has come back to haunt him, and shareholders are calling for a different approach. The drawbacks of the aggressive style became apparent in October, when Nigeria slapped the company with a $5.2 billion fine —…

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Tiger Sees South Africa Consumers Stressed as Costs Climb

Tiger Sees South Africa Consumers Stressed as Costs Climb

Johannesburg, South Africa, Capital Markets in Africa: Tiger Brands Ltd. said the risk of higher inflation will place pressure on South African consumers as the nation’s biggest food producer is raising prices to try to offset costs following record corn prices.  Headline earnings per share from continuing operations, which exclude one-time items, were 9.78 rand ($0.62) in the six months ended March 31 from 9.75 rand a year earlier, the Johannesburg-based company said in a statement Tuesday. Tiger…

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Ghana’s Biggest IPO Takes Fresh Twist as Sale Set to Reopen

Ghana’s Biggest IPO Takes Fresh Twist as Sale Set to Reopen

ACCRA, Ghana, Capital Markets in Africa: The controversy surrounding Ghana’s log-jammed initial share sale in its biggest agricultural lender has taken a fresh twist. The Agricultural Development Bank Ltd. said it will ask the West African nation’s securities regulator for permission to reopen the sale to give two state-owned entities — which didn’t participate in the initial public offering — an opportunity to buy shares. That may mean a delay of as much as two months before…

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Fitch Cuts Mozambique Rating to CC Over Hidden Public Debt

Fitch Cuts Mozambique Rating to CC Over Hidden Public Debt

MAPUTO, Mozambique, Capital Markets in Africa: Fitch Ratings cut Mozambique’s credit to CC, indicating that a default of some kind is probable, after the southern African nation last month disclosed more than $1 billion of previously hidden debt. The grade was cut by one notch from CCC, according to a statement e-mailed by the company Monday. The review was brought forward by five months because of a “material change in the creditworthiness of the issuer,” it said. “The…

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Investment | Nigeria Talking With Ansteel of China Over $4.5 Billion Project

Investment | Nigeria Talking With Ansteel of China Over $4.5 Billion Project

LAGOS, Nigeria, Capital Markets in Africa: Nigeria is in talks with companies including Ansteel Group Corporation of China to revive its $4.5 billion Ajaokuta steel complex, according to solid minerals development minister Kayode Fayemi. While construction of Ajaokuta started over three decades ago along the Niger River in central Nigeria with a planned production of 5 million metric tons annually, it was never completed. President Muhammadu Buhari wants to revive the factory project to diversify Africa’s largest economy which relies on oil,…

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