North Africa |

Moody’s downgrades Tunisia’s rating to B1, maintains negative outlook

TUNIS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Moody’s Investors Service has today downgraded the long-term issuer rating of the government of Tunisia to B1 from Ba3 and maintained the negative outlook. Moody’s has also downgraded the foreign currency debt rating of the Central Bank of Tunisia to B1 from Ba3 and maintained the negative outlook, in addition to downgrading the shelf/MTN rating to (P)B1 from (P)Ba3. The Government of Tunisia is legally responsible for the payments…

Egypt’s Quarterly Tourism Revenue Triples as FX Crisis Eases

Posted on by The Editorial Team

CAIRO (Capital Markets in Africa) – Egypt’s tourism receipts almost tripled and worker remittances rose in the last three months of its fiscal year, marking another step in the country’s economic recovery from a crippling dollar shortage. Tourism revenue rose to $1.5 billion in the fourth quarter that ended June 30, from $510 million in the same period a year ago, according to initial central bank data that it shared with Bloomberg. Full-year receipts rose 16…

Egypt Got $40 Billion in Investments, Transfers Since Float

Posted on by The Editorial Team

CAIRO (Capital Markets in Africa) – Egypt has received $40 billion in investments and transfers from abroad since floating its currency in November and securing the largest International Monetary Fund loan to a Middle East nation. The funds include receipts from exports, investors selling dollars to buy Egyptian assets, and the exchange of dollars for Egyptian pounds, either on the local market or through remittances, central bank sub-governor Rami Aboul Naga said on Thursday. The figure does not include financing Egypt…

Egypt Inflation Rate Surges to Record After Subsidy Cuts

Posted on by The Editorial Team

CAIRO (Capital Markets in Africa) – Egypt’s urban annual inflation rate accelerated in July to its highest level in decades, fuelled by a new round of subsidy cuts ordered under the government’s economic reform program. Annual consumer prices in urban areas climbed 33 percent, up from 29.8 percent in June, according to the state-run CAPMAS statistics agency. The month-on-month rate accelerated to 3.2 percent from 0.8 percent in June. Fuel and electricity price increases went into effect at…

Egypt Moves to End State Monopoly of Natural Gas Market

Posted on by The Editorial Team

CAIRO (Capital Markets in Africa) – Egypt is opening the door to private participation in its natural gas sector, moving to end the state’s monopoly as it pushes ahead with reforms meant to encourage investment and revive the economy. The new law signed by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi sets up a natural gas regulatory authority charged with licensing and devising a plan to open the gas market to competition. It also allows for the eventual import of natural…

Market Watch: Egyptian Major Equity Indices End in Red, Market Cap up EGP1bn

Posted on by The Editorial Team

Cairo (Capital Markets in Africa): The benchmark EGX30 index of the Egyptian Exchange (EGX) fell at Wednesday’s close by 0.08% or 10.4 points to the level of 13,707.13 points. Similarly, the EGX70, EGX100, and EGX50 indices declined by 0.25%, 0.10%, and 0.23%, respectively. The market capitalization increased by EGP 1 billion to EGP 708.99 billion. Trading volume reached 276.79 million shares exchanged at EGP 804.6 million through 23,200 transactions. Foreign and Arab traders were net…

Moroccan Banks Vulnerable to Economic Shocks Amidst Weak Capital Says Fitch Ratings

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CASABLANCA (Capital Markets in Africa) – Low capital buffers mean many Moroccan banks are susceptible to economic volatility, particularly in light of their weak asset quality and above-average risk appetite, Fitch Ratings says. Tangible common equity averages about 10% of tangible assets for the major Moroccan banks – a limited buffer given the banks’ risk profiles, single-obligor concentration risk and possible under-reporting of loan impairments. The Fitch Core Capital/weighted-risks ratios for rated banks averaged 12.6%…

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