The Markets | - Part 228

Oil Halts Gain Near $49 Before U.S. Stockpile Data, Brexit Vote

LAGOS, Nigeria, Capital Markets in Africa: Oil halted gains near $49 a barrel as markets awaited weekly U.S. stockpile data, while the U.K. referendum on membership of the European Union remained too close to call. Futures slid as much as 1 percent in New York. U.S. inventories probably fell by 1.5 million barrels last week, keeping them more than 100 million barrels above the five-year average, according to a Bloomberg survey before government data Wednesday. Separate polls showed leads…

Nigeria’s Naira Slumps as 15-Month Currency Peg Ends in Lagos

Posted on by The Editorial Team

LAGOS, Nigeria, Capital Markets in Africa: Nigeria’s naira weakened 22 percent to 253.50 per dollar after the central bank allowed the currency of Africa’s biggest economy to float freely on Monday. Demand for foreign currency has built up to about $3 billion since capital controls were imposed 15 months ago to defend the currency’s peg of 197-199 per dollar, according to Chapel Hill Denham Securities Ltd. Even as the naira weakens, local stocks may extend the best three-day rally…

Nigeria | Out of Options Amid Economic Slump, Nigeria Abandons Naira Peg

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LAGOS, Nigeria, Capital Markets in Africa: Battered by the oil plunge, starved of foreign currency and with the economy headed into recession, Africa’s second-biggest crude producer said Wednesday it will allow the naira to float, setting the stage for the currency to weaken. Free trade in the naira, set for Monday, will mark the end of more than a year of resistance by President Muhammadu Buhari, who reiterated his opposition to devaluation as recently as two…

Commodity | Trafigura Profit Boosted by Angola Buying Dormant Iron Ore Mine

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LAGOS, Nigeria, Capital Markets in Africa: Trafigura Group Pte’s first-half profit was boosted through a deal where the Angolan government paid millions of dollars for a dormant iron ore project, allowing the trading house to avoid a 50 percent drop in net income. The transaction, reported in a note in its earnings report earlier this month, enabled the Singapore-based trading house to book a one-time gain of almost $265 million in the six months to March…

Crude Oil | OPEC Turmoil Could Turn IEA’s Balanced Market Into Shortfall

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LAGOS, Nigeria, Capital Markets in Africa: The world’s most prominent oil forecaster, the International Energy Agency, anticipates near-equilibrium between supply and demand in global crude markets next year. If OPEC members can’t resolve some massive output disruptions, that will turn into a significant shortfall. World oil production in 2017 will very nearly match consumption, ending several years of oversupply, the Paris-based IEA forecast on June 14. For that to happen, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries would have to…

Crude Oil Price Falls Sixth Day as Easing Disruptions Offset U.S. Stock Drop

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LAGOS, Nigeria, Capital Markets in Africa: Oil fell a sixth day, heading for the longest run of declines since February on speculation that easing global supply disruptions will offset a decline in U.S. crude stockpiles and production. Futures dropped as much as 1.7 percent in New York, sliding in tandem with industrial metals and global equities, after losing 6.3 percent the previous five sessions. Output in Canada is expected to ramp up this month after wildfires cut production. U.S….

Egypt Approves Tougher Penalties on Black Market Dollar Traders

Posted on by The Editorial Team

CAIRO, Egypt, Capital Markets in Africa: Egypt approved tougher measures against illegal foreign currency traders as authorities seek to ease dollar shortages that are contributing to economic weakness. The government increased jail time for black market trading to as long as 10 years and raised fines, the cabinet said in an e-mailed statement. Other amendments to the central bank law give the governor the authority to suspend currency bureaus’ licenses and impose fines for violations. The…

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