Features

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Oil edged higher ahead of a flurry of high-level diplomatic activity over the month-old war in Ukraine that may see fresh curbs on Russia. West Texas Intermediate neared $110 a barrel after giving up early gains on Tuesday to end slightly lower. European Union and NATO leaders are set to gather in Brussels on Thursday to beef up their response to the crisis. Ahead of the meetings, White House National…

HARARE (Capital Markets in Africa) – Zimbabwe’s biggest miner of rough diamonds sees Russia’s invasion of Ukraine triggering far-reaching consequences for the global gem industry and possibly lifting demand for its own stones. Russia’s Alrosa is the world’s biggest diamond producer by volume at 30% and the slightest disruption to its ability to supply distorts the market, according to Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Co. Chief Executive Officer Mark Mabhudhu. “It may end up creating the supply gap…

LONDON (Capital Markets in Africa) – Centricus Asset Management Ltd. partnered with Cheyne Capital’s Jonathan Lourie and Talis Capital’s Bob Finch to join the bidding for Chelsea Football Club, one of European sport’s most prized assets. The offer from Centricus values Chelsea at more than 3 billion pounds ($3.9 billion), including commitments for further investment, a person familiar with the matter said, asking not to be identified discussing confidential information. Centricus co-founder Nizar Al-Bassam and…

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – China’s top envoy to Washington pledged his country “will do everything” to de-escalate the war in Ukraine, but refused to condemn Russia’s attack and branded such requests “naive.”  “There’s disinformation about China providing military assistance to Russia,” Ambassador Qin Gang said on CBS’s “Face the Nation” on Sunday. China isn’t sending “weapons and ammunitions to any party,” he said, calling Beijing’s “common interests” with Russia an “asset” that could help peace…

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – The world’s poorest nations will pay China and its lenders almost $14 billion this year in debt servicing costs, according to new research that urges Beijing to do more to support restructuring for those who need it.In total, 68 such countries will pay $52.8 billion this year in debt costs, according to a report by the Green Finance & Development Center at Fudan University in Shanghai. More than a quarter of that will…

Africa’s energy future at a crossroad  When it comes to building the future of energy in Africa, the decisions facing the continent’s leaders today are nothing less than of historical importance. More than anything else, energy systems are the very fabric of business and society. Countries across Africa want to make good on their objective of building huge amounts of new generation capacity to anticipate on vast increases in energy demand and set the continent…

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa): Pandemic outbreak is the biggest concern for companies in the hospitality, leisure and tourism industry, according to the Allianz Risk Barometer 2022. This risk receives the top ranking after Covid-19 led to large-scale business closures and supply chain disruption globally and brought tourism and aviation industries to an abrupt halt. However, while the pandemic continues to overshadow the economic outlook in this industry, encouragingly, businesses do feel they have adapted well. “When asked how prepared…