Nigeria’s banking share index up 7.4 percent

Nigeria’s banking share index up 7.4 percent

The Nigeria’s Top-10 banking index surged 7.4 percent at the end of Friday’s trading day, as a result of the two top lenders reported higher profits, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) and Zenith Bank recorded an impressive growth of 14.8% year-on-year in gross earnings to N403.3bn from N351.5bn in FY:2013. Likewise, GTB gross earnings advanced 14.8% from N242.7bn in 2013 financial year to N278.5bn in 2014 financial year, 4.3%. Their shares rose by 10.2 percent. The benchmark index –…

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JSE delivered a strong performance in 2014

JSE delivered a strong performance in 2014

The Johanneburg Stock Exchange (JSE) delivered a strong performance in 2014, making it more difficult for competitors to take on the local stock exchange, rated the 19th largest in the world. The JSE, as it stands, continues to be a profitable organisation, and in 2014 earnings per share rose 25% to 742.4c. Group earnings before interest and tax increased 22% to R704m. An ordinary dividend of 400c per share and a special dividend of 80c…

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Zenith Bank Gross Earnings up 14.8%

Zenith Bank Gross Earnings up 14.8%

Zenith Bank (“Zenith” or “the Bank”) yesterday released its audited FY:2014 result on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), outperforming our expectations. We present the highlights of the result and our FY:2015 estimates. Gross Earnings up 14.8% Y-o-Y; PAT up 4.3% Y-o-Y The wave of the release of banks’ FY:2014 results intensified yesterday, building investors’ momentum as  Zenith recorded positive growth in both top and bottom line notwithstanding Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN)…

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Orascom Construction offers 11 pct of shares in $185 mln IPO

Orascom Construction offers 11 pct of shares in $185 mln IPO

CAIRO (Reuters) – Orascom Construction plans to offer 11 percent of its shares on the Cairo bourse to raise 1.41 billion Egyptian pounds ($185 million). The company is being spun off from OCI NV, which will retain its fertiliser and chemicals operation. The construction business is seeking a dual listing on the Egyptian stock market and NASDAQ Dubai. In a statement published in Egypt’s Al-Ahram newspaper, Orascom said the stock would be offered in two…

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Corporate debt maturing in 2015-19 totals $8.9 trillion

Corporate debt maturing in 2015-19 totals $8.9 trillion

Standard & Poor’s projected that $8,879bn in corporate debt worldwide would mature between 2015 and 2019, with $1,610bn due in 2015, $1,753bn in 2016, $1,894bn in 2017, $1,714bn in 2018 and $1,908bn in 2019. The U.S. has $3,700bn in maturing debt during the covered period or 41.7% of the global maturing debt; followed by Europe with $3,631bn (40.9%), other developed countries with $969bn (10.9%) and emerging markets with $578bn (6.5%). In addition, non-financial corporate debt…

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CFA franc peg to Euro sustainable

CFA franc peg to Euro sustainable

Standard Chartered Bank considered that a devaluation of the West African CFA franc and the Central African CFA franc, which are both pegged to the Euro, is not likely in the near term. The CFA franc is the common currency of the West African Economic & Monetary Union and the Central African Economic & Monetary Community. First, it anticipated that the depreciation of the Euro against the US dollar would benefit the CFA franc zones…

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Mining for liquidity in Africa’s stock exchanges

Mining for liquidity in Africa’s stock exchanges

Improvements in political and macroeconomic stability, policy certainty and legal systems in many African countries, as well as Africa’s growing middle class and rise in consumption, continue to raise the bar on foreign interest in Africa as an investment destination – as GDP growth (as a whole) averages at six percent for three consecutive years*. Yet, Africa hasn’t reached its potential share of investment in extractive service. In fact, the UNCTAD has revealed that although…

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