Banking

RABAT Capital Markets in Africa) – Morocco’s central bank held its benchmark rate steady Tuesday, refusing to budge even as the country’s economic prospects took a turn for the worse. The decision, which Bank Al-Maghrib said was linked to bullish inflation projections and monetary conditions, came even as the government presses ahead with measures that will inject billions of dirhams into the economy — steps that also are impeding an easing. The bank’s board said…

HARARE (Capital Markets in Africa) – Most banks across Zimbabwe are unable to process salaries and pensions after one of the country’s largest payment networks suspended its services for unpaid bills. Cambria Africa Plc blocked bank customers on June 10 because its Payserv Africa unit is owed $470,000 for more than 4 million transactions since May 1, the Isle of Man-based investment company said in a statement on Wednesday. That was after it lost a collective $170,000 providing services over…

NAIROBI (Capital Markets in Africa) – Equity Group Holdings Plc set up a representative office in Ethiopia as the East African nation opens up its financial sector. Hassan Maalim will lead the office in Addis Ababa, which should be fully operational in July, Kenya’s biggest bank by market value said in a statement on Thursday after Bloomberg reported its plans. The bank’s “entry into Ethiopia is part of our phase two expansion in pursuit of our…

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – The South African Reserve Bank’s forecasting model suggests there might be room for interest rate cuts in the next year or two, given how weak the economy is, Governor Lesetja Kganyago said. While the central bank can play a role to help economic growth, decisions should be supported by other policies and structural reforms, Kganyago said in a copy of a speech posted on the Reserve Bank’s website. The…

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – South Africa’s banking industry would be able to withstand a default by Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd. but the impact on pension funds is a concern for the central bank, Governor Lesetja Kganyago said. The power utility is laden with about $35 billion of debt, roughly equally divided into bonds and loans, according to data compiled by Bloomberg from public records, and is struggling to meet demand for electricity from aging and unreliable plants.  “What would…

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – Africa’s biggest bank said Lonmin Plc investors should reject Sibanye Gold Ltd.’s takeover offer as it undervalues the platinum miner’s assets by as much as 6.64 billion rand ($460 million). While Sibanye’s offer equates to 11.60 rand a share, Lonmin’s value at current metal prices is 45% higher, Leroy Mnguni, an analyst at SBG Securities, a unit of Standard Bank Group Ltd., said in a note to clients. If assets such as the platinum producer’s…

CAIRO (Capital Markets in Africa) – Egypt’s central bank left interest rates unchanged for a second meeting on Thursday as it faces a potential resurgence in inflationary pressures from a fresh wave of subsidy cuts. The Monetary Policy Committee kept the overnight deposit rate at 15.75% and the lending rate at 16.75% — a decision predicted by all but one of 11 economists surveyed by Bloomberg. Cairo-based investment bank EFG Hermes has said the pause may extend…