The Markets | - Part 162

Iron Ore Imports Collapse as China’s Great Cleanup Kicks In

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Iron ore imports by China slumped last month to the lowest in more than a year, sinking from a record of above 100 million tons, as mills prepared for unprecedented state-ordered curbs on steel output over winter. Purchases dropped to 79.49 million tons in October, according to customs data on Wednesday. That’s down from September’s 102.8 million tons, and is the lowest amount since February 2016. Over the first 10 months,…

South Africa Stocks Regulator May Seek Foreign Help in Gupta Probe

Posted on by The Editorial Team

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – South Africa’s stock-market regulator said it has started a formal investigation into trades in Oakbay Resources and Energy Limited, a company controlled by the politically connected Gupta family, and may seek assistance from international supervisory bodies. A preliminary probe into the November 2014 dealings has been completed, and if needed, the Financial Services Board will contact counterparts in other countries, the Pretoria-based authority said in an emailed response to questions…

Kenya Requests Extension on Repayment of $750 Million Loan

Posted on by The Editorial Team

NAIROBI (Capital Markets in Africa) – Kenya has repaid 10 percent of a $750 million two-year syndicated loan that was due in October and asked creditors to give the government until April to pay the rest, Treasury Secretary Henry Rotich said. East Africa’s biggest economy secured the loan from Citigroup Inc., Standard Bank Limited and Standard Chartered Plc in October 2015. It intended to return the cash using the proceeds of a Eurobond that’s yet to be sold, Rotich told reporters Tuesday…

Ghana Misses $816 Million Bond Target After Extended Bidding

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ACCRA (Capital Markets in Africa) – Ghana missed its target to sell 3.6 billion cedis ($816 million) of non-sovereign bonds to settle the debt of energy utilities as demand for the securities fell short even after the offer was extended by a week. The West African nation placed 2.3 billion cedis of the 10-year bonds at 19.5 percent after receiving 2.8 billion cedis in bids demanding a yield of as much as 20 percent, joint deal…

Bitcoin Rally Is Eroding Gold’s Appeal, Top Online Vaulter Says

Posted on by The Editorial Team

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Bullion’s rally faltered in the past two months as the dollar strengthened and global equities set new records, while concerns over Brexit and Catalonia’s push for independence failed to drum up notable haven demand. Now, bitcoin’s surge is attracting investor interest toward the cryptocurrency and away from the metal, the biggest online vaulting service said. According to Google Trends, global searches for “buy bitcoin” have overtaken “buy gold” after previously exceeding searches…

Praet’s Cautious Approach to ECB Bond Buying Attracts Doubts

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LONDON (Capital Markets in Africa) – The European Central Bank’s ultra-cautious approach to removing stimulus triggered varying reactions, including a defense by chief economist Peter Praet and criticism from one of his former colleagues. Addressing a workshop in Frankfurt on Monday, Praet argued that the Governing Council’s decision to keep quantitative easing open-ended was appropriate as inflation in the 19-nation euro region remains subdued. For Francesco Papadia, a former director general for market operations at the ECB, officials had…

Oil Majors, Traders and Banks Team Up on Blockchain Platform

Posted on by The Editorial Team

LAGOS (CAPITAL Markets in Africa) – A group headed by some of the world’s biggest oil producers, trading houses and trade finance banks will develop a blockchain-based digital platform to manage physical commodity transactions. The group’s members, including producers BP Plc, Royal Dutch Shell Plc andStatoil ASA; trading houses Gunvor Group Ltd., Mercuria Energy Group Ltd. and Koch Supply & Trading; and banks ABN Amro Group NV, Societe Generale SA andING Groep NV, will form an independent venture to develop and operate the platform,…

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