The Markets

CAIRO (Capital Markets in Africa) — Business conditions in the Arab world’s three largest economies deteriorated further last month amid shutdowns from the coronavirus and a plunge in commodity prices. Non-oil private sector activity collapsed at an unprecedented pace in Egypt and suffered another record setback in the United Arab Emirates, according to Purchasing Managers’ Index surveys compiled by IHS Markit. Business conditions in Saudi Arabia also remained below the threshold of 50 that separates…

NEW YORK (Capital Markets in Africa) — The Food and Drug Administration is moving at “lightning speed” to review data on Gilead Sciences Inc.’s experimental Covid-19 treatment remdesivir, Commissioner Stephen Hahn said, after encouraging results emerged from a key U.S. trial. “We’re working with the company to emphasize the necessity of speed while at the same time to understand the data,” Hahn said in an interview. “There will be a lot of factors that go…

NEW YORK (Capital Markets in Africa) — U.S. and European stocks slumped amid dire economic warnings, more dismal data and corporate results that showed the coronavirus’s toll on businesses. Oil extended a rebound after an early-week tumble. Banks led the S&P 500 Index lower as the latest U.S. unemployment figures showed a larger-than-expected jump in new benefit claims and European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said the euro-area economy could shrink 12% this year. The…

NEW YORK (Capital Markets in Africa) — With interest rates near zero, Federal Reserve policymakers are likely to turn attention to other steps they could take to ensure a strong economic rebound once the coronavirus lock-down ends. The Federal Open Market Committee is all but certain to keep its benchmark overnight rate in a target range of 0-.25%, where it was lowered at an unscheduled FOMC on March 15 to help soften the pandemic’s blow. The committee…

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) — PSG Group Ltd. is weighing a spinoff of Capitec Bank Holdings Ltd., the best-performing South African banking stock since its listing in 2002, to unlock more value from its investments. All or part of PSG’s 30.7% stake in Capitec might be distributed to its investors, the company said in a statement on Wednesday. “The unbundling should be positive for PSG and result in a further decrease in the discount to net asset value,”…

NAIROBI (Capital Markets in Africa) — Safaricom Plc said full-year earnings jumped by 18% as East Africa’s biggest company reported growth in mobile money and data sales ahead of the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Net income was 73.7 billion shillings ($696 million) in the 12 months through March, beating a median analyst estimate of 69.7 billion shillings, the Nairobi-based company said in a statement on Wednesday. Service revenue increased by 4.8%. The arrival of…