The Markets

ADDIS ABABA (Capital Markets in Africa) – The yield on Ethiopia’s $1 billion of Eurobonds surged after the government’s expulsion of seven senior United Nations officials drew criticism from the UN chief and a fresh threat of U.S. sanctions. The rate on the debt jumped 24 basis points to a record high of 12.1% by 11:17 a.m. in London. The yield has almost doubled since a conflict erupted in the country’s northern Tigray region in…

NEW YORK (Capital Markets in Africa) – The cryptocurrency crowd has wasted no time in dancing on the grave of China’s “FUD” (internet speak for fear, uncertainty and doubt). Last week’s move by the People’s Bank of China to ban crypto transactions and mining dented the prices of Bitcoin, Ethereum and other digital currencies, but they’ve largelyrebounded. The bulls reckon the latest attempt by Beijing to crack down on crypto — the seventh, by research…

NEW YORK (Capital Markets in Africa) – Robert Kiyosaki foresees a “giant stock market crash” within the next month, but believes in holding on to a few select asset classes. What Happened: In a tweet from Sunday, the “Rich Dad Poor Dad” author told his 1.7 million Twitter followers he expects a massive crash in the near future. “Giant stock market crash coming October. Why? Treasury and Fed short of T-bills,” said Kiyosaki. “Gold, silver, Bitcoin may crash too….

HARARE (Capital Markets in Africa) – Zimbabwe has been asked to settle a $70 million debt after it lost an international arbitration case over canceled nickel and platinum ventures between a private company and the state miner more than a decade ago.  Companies linked to Amaplat Mauritius Ltd. made the proposal in a Sept. 15 letter to Zimbabwe’s Secretary for Finance and Economic Development, George Guvamatanga, seen by Bloomberg.  The alternative is having the assets of…

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – China banned all crypto transactions and vowed to stop illegal crypto mining, delivering the toughest blow yet to the trillion-dollar industry.  Crypto-related transactions will be considered illicit financial activity, including services provided by off-shore exchanges, the People’s Bank of China said on its website. It added that cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin and Tether, are not fiat currency and cannot be circulated.   It’s the harshest step yet that China’s taken against…

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Bitcoin, Ether and other digital tokens tumbled as China intensified its push to rein in crypto speculation and mining.  Bitcoin fell 7.8% to $41,220 as of 7:41 a.m. in New York. The losses were more severe in other coins, with Ether, EOS, Litecoin and Dash all falling more than 7%. Crypto-related stocks also came under pressure, with Marathon Digital Holdings Inc. tumbling 6% in U.S. pre-market trading.  China’s central bank…