South Africa Rand Falls Most Among Emerging Markets After Jobless Rate Climbs

South Africa Rand Falls Most Among Emerging Markets After Jobless Rate Climbs

Johannesburg, South Africa, Capital Markets in Africa — The rand fell to its weakest in a month after data showing theSouth African jobless rate at the highest in at least eight years added to concerns that economic growth may be slow to revive. The rand dropped as much as 2.1 percent against the dollar and traded at 15.1716 by 4:38 p.m. in Johannesburg, the weakest since April 7 on a closing basis and the biggest loser among 24…

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Developing an Appropriate Benchmark Index for African Equity Fund

Developing an Appropriate Benchmark Index for African Equity Fund

LAGOS, Nigeria, Capital Markets in Africa: Although most investors have adopted a preferred benchmark or index to measure or track the performance of developed markets, agreeing on benchmarks for emerging and frontier markets still needs to be established. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) coined the terms emerging markets and frontier markets and was the pioneer in creating equity indices in these markets. S&P Dow Jones Indices (SPDJI) acquired Africa Indices from the IFC in 2000…

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South Africa | Partnerships Can Avert South Africa Junk Rating, Radebe Says

South Africa | Partnerships Can Avert South Africa Junk Rating, Radebe Says

Johannesburg, South Africa, Capital Markets in Africa — South Africa’s government is confident that its partnerships with business and labor can help it avert a credit-rating downgrade to junk, according to Jeff Radebe, Minister for Planning, Performance, Monitoring & Evaluation in the Presidency. “We are not envisaging a downgrade because we have put in measures as a government working with our partners in the private sector and labor to ensure that we stay the course,” Rabede told…

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Morocco’s Macroeconomic Prospects unfavourable but positive momentum

Morocco’s Macroeconomic Prospects unfavourable but positive momentum

Casablanca, Morocco, Capital Markets in Africa: Prospects for the Morocco economy in 2016 are mixed with very weak economic growth on the one hand and, on the other, an on-going contraction in the twin deficits, which will help restore the long-term health of the country’s public finances and balance of payments. As far as the growth outlook is concerned, expectations of weak GDP growth in 2016 should once again highlight the economy’s sensitivity to the…

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Infrastructure | South Africa Secures $16.5 Million for National Internet Rollout

Infrastructure | South Africa Secures $16.5 Million for National Internet Rollout

Johannesburg, South Africa, Capital Markets in Africa — South Africa has set aside 250 million rand ($16.5 million) to start the first phase of broadband roll-out across Africa’s most industrialized economy and will approach the private sector, banks and development institutions about additional funding, the telecommunications minister said. Construction will start in three months following various delays, Siyabonga Cwele said in a phone interview on Monday. The total cost of the project could rise to as much as…

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Unleashing African Equities — Fund Manager Perspective

Unleashing African Equities — Fund Manager Perspective

LAGOS, Nigeria, Capital Markets in Africa: Confident in the positive prospects embedded into Africa’s long term development, our team has been working on the best way to access the latter for almost a decade. In this purpose, one should be aware that intrinsic risks related to the region’s political and economic situation make the definition of an investment strategy relatively complex, especially when taking into account the features of the continent’s capital markets such as…

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South Africa | Moody’s places South Africa’s Baa2 ratings on review for downgrade

South Africa | Moody’s places South Africa’s Baa2 ratings on review for downgrade

Johannesburg, South Africa, Capital Markets in Africa — New York, Moody’s Investors Service has today placed the Baa2 bond and issuer ratings of the government of South Africa on review for downgrade. Also placed on review for downgrade were South Africa’s (P)Baa2/(P)P-2 shelf and MTN program ratings. The decision to place the ratings on review was prompted by the continuing rise in risks to the country’s medium-term economic prospects and to its fiscal strength, notwithstanding…

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