Market Watch

NEW YORK (Capital Markets in Africa) – It is the time of year when investors look at their books and see which losing securities they can shed to trim their tax bills—but they may have little to work with this year. Investors can lower taxes on their capital gains—which face ordinary income rates if held for a year or less—by selling at a loss certain shares that have dropped in value. Depending on the extent…

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – Demand at South Africa’s weekly government bond auction surged as investors stocked up on some of the most attractive yields in emerging markets before supply dries up into the year-end. Investors bid for almost four times the amount of securities on offer, making it the strongest sale since the government increased the auction amount to 4.53 billion rand ($306 million) on August 6, according to Bloomberg calculations based on central-bank data. S&P…

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – The decline in equity volatility from its early August highs looks overdone given the number of risk events that lie ahead, according to market participants. Federal Reserve meeting minutes, Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s speech at Jackson Hole and a slew of economic data from purchasing managers indexes to jobless claims are among those seen to have the potential to re-ignite price swings. The Fed is seen as the most…

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – That’s the message EM investors can take on board as they weigh up U.S. rate reductions and next week’s G-20 meeting — and a dovish Fed should overcome trade fears. There are opposing forces at play. Donald Trump’s desire for lower interest rates — markets say there’s an 84% chance the Fed cuts by the end of July — is making EM traders giddy about a weaker dollar. But his penchant for trade…

LAGOS (Capital Markets in AfricaA) – Oil rose in New York, trading near a five-month high, after industry data indicated a sharp decline in American gasoline inventories last week. West Texas Intermediate crude futures increased 0.6 percent, while gasoline climbed as much as 1.5 percent to the highest since October. The American Petroleum Institute was said to report on Tuesday that gasoline stockpiles fell by 7.08 million barrels. That may change expectations for more comprehensive government…

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Cobalt prices were surging so much last year that thieves were carrying out elaborate heists at warehouses in Europe’s busiest port. Now, prices are in free fall and mining companies are taking the financial hit. The story of what happened is the classic boom-bust in commodities. In the case of cobalt, it was Elon Musk’s vision of electric cars gaining mass appeal and an ensuing rush of money to…