The Markets

— As we start 2019, it is an opportune time to reflect on the year that was and forge the way forward. The cryptoeconomy celebrated its 10th  birthday in 2018, reaching a total market capitalization of approximately $138.6 billion (KSh 14.2 trillion). In spite of a fluctuating market, a leading global peer-to-peer Bitcoin marketplace, Paxful (www.Paxful.com), saw an upswing in activity, driven by African consumers in which servicing the underbanked resulted in significant gains. Africa conducted 6.5 million trades…

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – BCS Americas (BCSA) a division of BCS Global Markets (BCS GM) has announced the launch of a new trading platform that will provide global equity execution and settlement capabilities to institutional investors with access to a suite of algorithmic trading tools accessible 24 hours a day, 5 days a week. BCS GM first unlocked Russian markets for US investors with the launch of BCS Americas in 2016. BCS Americas…

JOHANESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – South African government bonds that offer protection against price increases are outperforming nominal debt so far this year — but that may prove to be a false start. Demand for inflation-linked bonds increased as inflation in Africa’s most-industrialized economy accelerated in 2018, reaching an 18-month high of 5.2 percent in November. But the rate probably plunged to 4.5 percent in December, data will show Wednesday, according to the median estimate of 19 economists…

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – Fixed-income traders who have become complacent about interest rate increases in South Africa are setting themselves up for a “negative monetary surprise,” according to Nedbank Group Ltd. — and that could cost them. The South African Reserve Bank will meet for this first time this year on Thursday, with all 18 economists in a Bloomberg survey predicting policy makers will hold the benchmark rate at 6.75 percent. But a hike could…