The Markets

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) — Expanding utility of Bitcoin as an emerging-markets currency diversifier and store-of-value is playing out with the Turkish lira’s August swoon. Despite weakness in cryptocurrencies and gold, Bitcoin is showing resilience. It may be another failed bounce but still indicates greater integration of Bitcoin into global markets.  Bitcoin, New Currency Diversifier vs. Gold Declining gold in U.S. dollar terms vs. rallying Bitcoin, coincident with the weekend plunge in the Turkish…

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – If you want to buy Bitcoin without actually buying Bitcoin, you now have another way to own the controversial digital currency. No, it’s not the U.S. exchange-traded fund investors have been touting as a catalyst for demand for the embattled virtual money. It’s an exchange-traded note, and starting Wednesday, investors can buy it more easily even though it’s technically listed and regulated in Sweden. The product, called Bitcoin Tracker One, is now…

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – South Africa’s rand was battered by headwinds including a downbeat assessment of the economy by Moody’s Investors Service and a plunge in the biggest company on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. The currency sank as much as 3.4 percent against the dollar after Moody’s said the pace of South Africa’s fiscal consolidation will be slower than government forecasts due to weaker-than-expected economic growth and a rising public sector wage bill. The statement…