The Markets | - Part 224

Nigeria | Naira Forwards, Volatility Surge as Nigeria Removes Spread Limit

LAGOS, Capital Markets in Africa: Naira forwards rose to record highs and volatility surged after the Central Bank of Nigeria removed a limit on bid-offer spreads in the foreign-exchange market, raising expectations the currency is set to extend declines as it trades more freely. Three-month non-deliverable forward contracts jumped 4.1 percent to a record329 per dollar by 4:41 p.m. in Lagos, while contracts maturing in a year rose 3.3 percent to 363, also the highest level…

Zimbabwe Misses Own Deadline to Repay $1.8 Billion; Pays None

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Harare, Capital Markets in Africa, Zimbabwe failed to repay $1.8 billion to the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and African Development Bank by its own June 30 deadline. “Right now, we’ve not paid anything,” John Mangudya, Zimbabwe’s central bank governor, said by phone from the capital, Harare, on Thursday. “That is why we have this re-engagement process with international financial institutions. This is all part of re-engagement and confidence building measures.” Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa said earlier…

Ghana Companies Sell Shares at Record Rate Amid Debt Squeeze

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ACCRA, Ghana, Capital Markets in Africa: Ghanaian companies needing cash are caught in a dilemma. Faced with borrowing costs at a 13-year high, companies including the local unit of Diageo Plc and Ghana Oil Co. are turning to the stock market to raise record amounts of capital as they try to reduce debt. They could hardly have chosen a worse time. The West African nation’s benchmark stock index is in a bear market, having fallen to a three-year low as a plunge…

South Africa’s Rand Leads Emerging-Market Gains Against Dollar on Stimulus Bets

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South Africa, Capital Markets in Africa: South Africa’s rand strengthened to a 11-week high against the dollar as prospects for stimulus in major economies boosted demand for riskier assets. The currency weakened against the pound as an expected immediate U.K. rate cut failed to materialize. The currency jumped 1.7 percent to 14.2423 against the dollar by 1:58 p.m. in Johannesburg, set for the strongest close since April 29 and leading gains among 24 emerging-market currencies tracked by Bloomberg….

Uganda’s Second Stock Exchange Opens, Seeks 10 Million Accounts

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Kampala, Uganda, Capital Markets in Africa: Uganda’s second stock exchange started operating Wednesday, more than two years after winning approval, and said it seeks to win 10 million customers within five years. ALTX East Africa Limited, a unit of Mauritius-founded ALTX Africa Group, will run with fully automated systems enabling it to handle 150,000 transactions a second and provide settlement within 15 minutes, Chief Executive Officer Joseph Kitamirike told reporters in the capital, Kampala. The exchange’s first…

Chocolate Makers Saved by Currency as Cocoa Reaches 39-Year High

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LAGOS, Nigeria, Capital Markets in Africa: Cocoa prices may have climbed to a 39-year high, but for once chocolate makers have been spared. That’s because the rally that took futures traded in London to the highest level since 1977 was spurred by a weakening pound after the U.K.’s decision to leave the European Union. With most chocolate makers paying their bills in either euros or dollars, prices in those currencies have actually dropped since the…

Brexit Offers Lifeline on $800 Billion Emerging Company Debt

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LAGOS, Capital Markets in Africa: Britain’s vote to exit the European Union has thrown a lifeline to emerging-market companies facing an $800 billion wall of maturing debt. By hindering the Federal Reserve’s plan to raise interest rates, the referendum result has led to speculation borrowing costs will remain lower for longer as policy makers attempt to prevent Europe’s turmoil turning into a recession. This means developing-nation companies that borrowed when it was cheaper to do so won’t have…

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