Economy | - Part 75

Gabon | Prioritizing spend in an election year — Bank of America Merrill Lynch

Libreville, Gabon, Capital Markets in Africa —The Gabonese government is taking steps to mitigate the effect of lower oil prices (oil makes up 40% of revenues) by re-prioritizing its development plans. A supplementary budget is expected to be released in the summer, which will detail where spending can be cut with minimal social and growth impacts. The government is using US$30/bbl in the budget (compared to US$42 previously) and expects GDP growth of 3.2% and…

Mozambique Rating Downgrade by S&P, Moody’s on Debt Swap

Posted on by The Editorial Team

MAPUTO, Mozambique, Capital Markets in Africa — Mozambique’s credit rating was downgraded by Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s Investors Service because a proposed restructuring of about $700 million of bonds issued by a state-owned Tuna-fishing company could be equivalent to a default, according to the firms. S&P’s rating for the south-east African nation was lowered to CC, 10 levels below investment grade, from B-, the company said in a press statement released on Tuesday. While Moody’s…

Nigeria: February Headline Inflation Surges to 38-month High

Posted on by The Editorial Team

LAGOS, Nigeria, Capital Markets in Africa — The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) released the Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures for February 2016 today with the major Headline Index and Sub-indices at record high double-digit levels. February Headline Inflation – measured Year-on-Year (Y-o-Y) was estimated at 11.4%, 1.8% higher than 9.6% reported in January. Headline inflation has been on a steady rise since December 2014 (8.0%) with the only decline in October 2015. The current…

Nigeria’s GDP growth slows in 2015 amidst forex liquidity constraints

Posted on by The Editorial Team

LAGOS, Nigeria, Capital Markets in Africa — The Nigeria National Bureau of Statistics released economic performance data for the fourth quarter of 2015 on Friday 11 2016. The release showed that Africa’s largest economy grew by 2.1% year-on-year (yoy) in the fourth quarter against market expectations of 2.85%. The growth rate was also lower than the 2.84% recorded in the third quarter of 2015 and significantly lower than the 5.94% recorded in the fourth quarter of…

Moody’s place South Africa’s Banks, Old Mutual, Eskom on review for downgrade

Posted on by The Editorial Team

Johannesburg, South Africa, Capital Markets in Africa — Moody’s Investors Service placed on review for downgrade the Baa2 long-term deposit and senior debt ratings of the five largest South African banks: Standard Bank of South Africa, FirstRand Bank Limited, ABSA Bank Limited, Nedbank Limited, and Invective Bank Ltd. The rating agency has also placed on review for downgrade Standard Bank Group’s Baa3 issuer rating. It also placed the Baa3 senior debt rating of Old Mutual…

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

Posted on by The Editorial Team

Johannesburg, South Africa, Capital Markets in Africa — 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 the tighter…

South Africa’s GDP grew by a modest 1.3% in 2015

Posted on by The Editorial Team

Johannesburg, South Africa, Capital Markets in Africa — In the final quarter of 2015, South Africa GDP rose by a very modest 0.6%q/q, annualised (seasonally adjusted). This compares with growth of 0.7%q/q in Q3 2015, 1.3%q/q in Q2 and 2.2%q/q in the first quarter of 2015. The latest GDP performance was slightly below market expectations, which was for growth of 0.9%q/q (STANLIB 0.9%q/q). Over the past year to Q4 2015, SA GDP rose by a…

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