Features

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa)- South African state companies have been brought to their knees by graft, according to Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan. At least seven state companies are “either on their knees or touching carpet” as institutions were damaged due to so-called state capture, Gordhan said Thursday at a conference in Johannesburg. As much as 500 billion rand ($36 billion) probably left South Africa due to state capture, he said, using a local term…

LONDON (Capital Markets in AfricaA) – Net migration to Britain from other European Union countries is at its lowest level in a decade as Brexit uncertainty escalates. EU citizens arriving in the U.K. outnumbered those leaving by just 57,000 in the 12 months through September, the least since 2009 and half the number recorded a year earlier, the Office for National Statistics said Thursday. Overall net migration, including from non-EU countries, was little changed at 283,000. EU…

DAKAR (Capital Markets in Africa) – Senegalese President Macky Sall is leading Sunday’s election with the necessary majority for an outright win, according to unofficial results from most of the country’s 45 departments. Sall secured 57 percent of the 3.8 million votes counted in 39 departments that were compiled by a group of citizen observers known as Senegal Vote and tallied by Bloomberg. The results from 32 departments that were reported by state-run Agence de Presse Senegalaise…

LONDON (Capital Markets in Africa) – Theresa May promised members of Parliament a vote to delay Brexit and block the potential economic disaster of a no-deal split with the European Union if they reject her divorce agreement next month. May said she will carry on trying to reach a deal in Brussels so the U.K. can leave as planned on March 29. But if that isn’t possible, Britain will not lurch out of the club of…

LONDON (Capital Markets in Africa) = U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May has promised Parliament that it will have a chance to vote to extend the Brexit deadline next month as a way of avoiding a chaotic no-deal exit. How will it work? Is May calling for a delay? No. May says she doesn’t want to delay exit day on March 29. She’s offering the vote in order to head off a growing rebellion of lawmakers and ministers…

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – The European Union has made no secret that it thinks Prime Minister Theresa May should delay Brexit day. The question is, for how long. May on Tuesday promised the British Parliament a vote on a “short” postponement if it doesn’t approve her deal by March 12. EU officials are relieved it lessens the chances of a crash-out Brexit at the end of next month but say there must be a clear plan for…