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Too Soon to Call South Africa Rate-Hike Cycle End, Kganyago Says

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – South Africa’s central bank can’t yet call the end of its interest rate-increase cycle, even as the risks to inflation have eased since the Monetary Policy Committee’s January meeting, Governor Lesetja Kganyagosaid. “It’s too early for me to make the call as to whether we are still on the tightening cycle or not,” Kganyago said in an interview with Bloomberg Television’s Jonathan Ferro. “We can’t say that” the increased cycle is…

Africa’s Central Banks Reaction Amid Inflation and Growth Concerns

Posted on by The Editorial Team

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…

Tanzania central bank asks commercial banks to cut lending rates

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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…

Tanzania central bank slashes its discount rate to 12 pct

Posted on by The Editorial Team

DAR ES SALAAM (Capital Markets in Africa) – Tanzania’s central bank cut its discount rate to 12 percent from 16 percent to help spur lending and boost economic growth, the first time it has lowered borrowing costs since 2013. The cut, which the central bank said in a circular to commercial banks seen by Reuters becomes effective on Monday, follows a steep drop in private sector credit growth last year. “The discount rate which is applicable…

Botswana keeps lending rate unchanged at 5.5%, sees low and stable inflation

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GABORONE (Capital Markets in Africa) – Botswana’s central bank maintained its benchmark Bank Rate at 5.50 percent and forecast low and stable inflation in the medium term, consistent with the 3-6 percent target range, that augurs well for accommodative monetary policy that can support lending to businesses and households. Bank Botswana (BB), which cut its rate by 50 basis points in August 2016, also said it aimed for a 0.26 percent upward rate of crawl…

Nigeria tests waters for possible broad naira devaluation

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ABUJA (Capital Markets in Africa) – Nigeria effectively devalued the naira for private individuals on Monday, paving the way for a possible broader move despite stiff resistance from President Muhammadu Buhari. With Buhari abroad for medical treatment and the country’s currency exchange system in chaos, the central bank said Nigerians wanting dollars for travel or to pay foreign school fees could buy dollars at nearly 20 percent above the official rate. Some Nigerians saw the…

Nigerian Central Bank Issues New Policy Actions in the Foreign Exchange Market

Posted on by The Editorial Team

ABUJA (Capital Markets in Africa) – In continuation of efforts to increase the availability of Foreign Exchange in order to ease the difficulties encountered by Nigerians in obtaining funds for Foreign Exchange transactions, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is providing direct additional funding to banks to meet the needs of Nigerians for Personal and Business Travel, Medical needs, and School fees, effective immediately. The CBN expects such retail transactions to be settled at a…

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