Features | - Part 202

HSBC Sees Buying Opportunity in South Africa Amid Zuma Turmoil

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – While some stock investors may choose to flee South Africa as political turmoil engulfs President Jacob Zuma, HSBC analysts argue the noise around the embattled leader and his ruling party makes it a good time to buy. That’s because a pick-up in the South African economy and a favourable commodity price cycle as China, the biggest consumer of metals, avoids a hard landing are positive for the local market. In…

Mobius Draws Contrast Between Iron Ore’s Wild Ride, Fundamentals

Posted on by The Editorial Team

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Iron ore consumption in China will probably be sustained as Asia’s top economy builds out infrastructure, according to Mark Mobius, who highlighted what he sees as a difference between the industry’s relatively stable supply-demand fundamentals and large swings in prices. “We’ve got to separate those two things,” the executive chairman of Templeton Emerging Markets Group said in an interview in Singapore, without giving a price forecast. “Supply-demand is one thing, price…

EU Sanctions Nine Congolese Including Two Government Figures

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CONGO (Capital Markets in Africa) – The European Union imposed sanctions on nine Democratic Republic of Congo citizens, including the interior and communications ministers, accusing them of undermining democracy and responsibility for human-rights abuses. The travel bans and asset freezes represent a significant escalation in EU action against President Joseph Kabila’s government since it failed to hold elections in November. While the EU sanctioned seven security officials in December, Monday’s move is the first time the EU has…

Mobius Sees Way to Dodge Zuma Risks in South African Stock Picks

Posted on by The Editorial Team

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – South African companies that have diversified beyond the country’s borders are the best bet for investors, because their fortunes are less tightly entangled with the political risks posed by the presidency of Jacob Zuma, said Mark Mobius, the executive chairman of Templeton Emerging Market Group. Decisions taken by Zuma have moved markets, most recently in March, when he fired Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan. The rand weakened and S&P Global Ratings and…

Nigerian Insurance Industry: Overview, Challenges and Opportunities

Posted on by The Editorial Team

Despite the lingering apathy for Insurance by the Nigerian populace, driven largely by cultural & religious beliefs, the Industry remains resilient, recording a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.2% in gross premium Income (GPI) since 2012. In 2016, the Industry’s GPI grew by an estimated 10% to ₦356 billion[1]. Growth was upheld by the enforcement of compulsory insurance policies, particularly in the group life and motor insurance business lines. However, the Industry’s performance was…

The Promise of Blockchain in Insurance

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LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Blockchain has huge potential to enhance insurers’ business model and to improve cooperation between insurance companies but is also being used by digital start-ups to attack it. Hence, the imperative for Incumbents to start exploring this nascent technology.Many have likened the revolutionary possibilities of blockchain technology to those of the internet, such is its perceived capacity to transform the ways in which people and businesses cooperate. Sensing this, investors…

OPEC, non-OPEC Extend Cuts in Oil Output by Nine Months to battle Global Oil glut

Posted on by The Editorial Team

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – OPEC and non-members led by Russia decided on Thursday to extend cuts in oil output by nine months to March 2018 as they battle a global glut of crude after seeing prices halve and revenues drop sharply in the past three years. Oil prices dropped more than 4 percent <LCOc1> as the market had been hoping oil producers could reach a last-minute deal to deepen the cuts or extend…

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