South Africa rand hits near 19-mth high as Fed signals gradual tightening

South Africa rand hits near 19-mth high as Fed signals gradual tightening

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – South Africa’s rand hovered near a 19-month high against the dollar early on Thursday after the U.S. Federal Reserve raised interest rates on Wednesday, but signalled a gradual pace of rate hikes for the rest of the year. At 0646 GMT, the rand traded at 12.8125 per dollar, flat from its New York close on Thursday, after rallying to 12.77 late on Wednesday in the wake of the Fed’s…

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Nampak Shares Drop as Funds Trapped in Nigeria, Angola Increase

Nampak Shares Drop as Funds Trapped in Nigeria, Angola Increase

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Nampak Limited fell after Africa’s biggest beverage-can maker said cash stranded in Nigeria and Angola rose in the five months through February as it continues to battle to get money out of the countries. The stock fell as much as 2.3 percent to 15.99 rand before trading 0.7 percent lower at 10:30 a.m. in Johannesburg, extending its decline this year to 12 percent and giving the company a market value of 11 billion…

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Will Nigerian Equity Markets Rebound in 2017?

Will Nigerian Equity Markets Rebound in 2017?

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – The equity market could be headed for another tough year with economic concerns surrounding FX and weak corporate earnings continue to downplay the attractive valuations of blue chip stocks. We reiterate the strong correlation of the Nigerian equity market to oil prices and with the price of Brent crude oil hovering around $55/bbl coming into 2017, we think losses will be less steep this year with the potential for…

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Nigerian Equity Markets: Key Drivers Still Under Siege

Nigerian Equity Markets: Key Drivers Still Under Siege

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Analysis of market performance in 2016 indicated that although a combination of poor corporate releases as well as weak macroeconomic fundamentals contributed to the negative return for the year, market volatility remained largely consistent with instability in the currency market. More specifically, while bearish sentiments persisted for most of 2016, equities rallied between May and July 2016 due to reforms in the Oil & Gas sector and adoption of…

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The World a Better Place for South Africa for South Africa Investors

The World a Better Place for South Africa for South Africa Investors

JOHANNESBUGH (Capital Markets in Africa) – There are three big themes that we believe will dominate markets in the year ahead. These are Keynes is King, Reflation and South Africa Stabilises. The first two themes are about an improving world and better global growth, while the third theme is South Africa specific and has the biggest impact on the local asset classes in which we invest.  Keynes is King  The world has shifted. The big…

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Investing in African equity markets today: Zimbabwe as a case study for sub-Saharan Africa

Investing in African equity markets today: Zimbabwe as a case study for sub-Saharan Africa

HARARE (Capital Markets in Africa) – A decade after its first disastrous flirtation with hyperinflation, Zimbabwe is once again on the economic precipice with the effects being conspicuously similar. Supermarket shelves have started to empty, some public and even private sector salaries remain unpaid, banking hall queues are getting longer and hospitals are short of basic supplies. Whilst the humanitarian state of affairs is critical we find the microeconomic structures persistently durable given that businesses continue…

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Are African Markets Large and Instruments Mature Enough to Sustain CCPs?

Are African Markets Large and Instruments Mature Enough to Sustain CCPs?

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Since the financial crisis, clearing houses – also known as central counterparties (CCPs) – have come to be seen as having a fundamental role in managing risk in financial markets. So far, Africa has lagged behind other regions in adopting CCPs. Do African markets need CCPs? The answer to this question depends on understanding more about the ways in which CCPs contribute to risk management and how much of…

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