Kenyan shilling stays at 3-year-lows, central bank action eyed

Kenyan shilling stays at 3-year-lows, central bank action eyed

NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenya’s shilling was hovering at three-year lows on Wednesday but avoiding a further slide due to expectations that the central bank could offer support by selling dollars. At 0800 GMT commercial banks quoted the shilling at 93.35/45 to the dollar, compared with 90.30/50 to the dollar at Tuesday’s close – a level last seen in November 2011. “Fundamentally, it looks weak. What’s keeping it from weakening further is the probability of the…

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Morocco reduces euro’s weighting in its currency basket

Morocco reduces euro’s weighting in its currency basket

RABAT, April 13 (Reuters) – Morocco’s central bank has reduced the euro’s weighting in the currency basket used to set the dirham’s exchange rate, to reflect a fall in trade with the euro zone, it said on Monday. It is the first time in a decade that the bank has changed the basket’s weighting, aiming to make its currency regime more flexible, as recommended by the International Monetary Fund. The dirham is still mostly pegged…

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South Africa’s rand, govt bonds weaker on dollar pressures

South Africa’s rand, govt bonds weaker on dollar pressures

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa’s rand gave up its gains against the dollar on Friday, as the greenback strengthened with jobless claims data easing concern over the state of the U.S. economy. At 1448 GMT the rand was trading 0.32 percent softer at 11.9885 to the dollar compared with its closing level on Thursday. The rand hit an intraday low of 12.0580/dollar during the session, its weakest level since April 1. “It’s all dollar driven…

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Zambia’s kwacha gains 3 pct on possible mining tax review

Zambia’s kwacha gains 3 pct on possible mining tax review

LUSAKA (Reuters) – Zambia’s kwacha gained more than 3 percent against the dollar on Friday, boosted by expectations of changes to the copper producer’s mining royalty regime and reduced liquidity after a rise in statutory reserves. By 1429 GMT, the kwacha was trading at 7.2000 against the dollar, 3.16 percent firmer from its closing level on Thursday.”There is some correction on the kwacha after it over shot weaker yesterday,” said Zambia analyst Irmgard Erasmus of…

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Nigeria to limit amount individuals can spend abroad on debit cards

Nigeria to limit amount individuals can spend abroad on debit cards

LAGOS (Reuters) – Nigeria’s central bank plans to limit the amount commercial bank customers can spend using their debits cards while abroad, an industry group said on Friday, in the latest crackdown on dollar demand to save its dwindling foreign reserves. The bank has been battling to prop up the naira after a sharp fall in the price of oil, Nigeria’s main export, which triggered a sell-off in assets by foreign investors. The Chief Executive…

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NSE records low bonds trade in March

NSE records low bonds trade in March

The bond was hugely oversubscribed as it is tax-free with a provision for a partial principal redemption (repayment) during its life. “People held back on trading in the secondary market because they were sparing liquidity to participate in the infrastructure bond,” said Alexander Muiruri, head of sales and research at Nairobi-based brokerage house Kestrel Capital. Despite the high liquidity shown by the market in the subscription of the 12-year bond, the yield actually went up…

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Treasury raises Sh24bn from 12-year reopened bond

Treasury raises Sh24bn from 12-year reopened bond

The 12-year Sh25 billion infrastructure bond tap sale (reopening) has raised Sh24 billion, meaning the Treasury has achieved its target of netting Sh50 billion from the issue. All the subscriptions to the bond were accepted and allotted at the same fixed yield rate of 11.55 per cent like in the first sale of the bond. The initial sale of the infrastructure bond done in the last week of March was oversubscribed 106 per cent, attracting…

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