The Markets

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – For South Africa’s cash-strapped weapons company Denel SOC Ltd., there’s one fish that keeps on biting whenever it casts its net into debt markets, and that’s the Public Investment Corp. Earlier this month, the state-owned arms maker issued 290 million rand ($20 million) of government-guaranteed, senior unsecured notes maturing a year from now. The PIC, which manages most of the South African government’s pension-fund money, bought all of that new…

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa)  – Global equity markets are getting beaten up, but gold miners have been spared as haven demand swells and bullion’s outlook brightens. Newcrest Mining Ltd., Australia’s top producer, rallied as much as 2.3 percent on Tuesday, while South Africa’s Harmony Gold Mining Co. Ltd. was the biggest mover, rising 3.8 percent. Canada’s Barrick Gold Corp. — which is taking over rival Randgold Resources Ltd. — has surged 28 percent this quarter. The gold miners…

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – The rand’s implied volatility against the dollar tells you one thing about the currency in 2019: it’s going to be a wild ride. It’s just not clear which way. The cost of hedging in the options market against price swings in the South African currency over the next year has climbed almost 500 basis points since April. Though it has moderated from its September high, it’s still about 200 basis points…