The Markets

LONDON (Capital Markets in Africa)- The rapidly spreading coronavirus has wreaked havoc across much of the developed world, yet not a single case has been confirmed so far in Africa — the continent that’s least equipped to deal with the epidemic. Health officials are still bracing themselves for the worst. Two-way travel between Africa and China, the epicenter of the respiratory illness that’s infected more than 31,000 people since late December, has surged over recent…

LONDON (Capital Markets in Africa) – Outgoing Bank of England chief Mark Carney is leaving his successor with a mystery to puzzle over. As Andrew Bailey takes over from the Canadian in March, he’ll find officials at the U.K. central bank closely studying why inflation isn’t as strong as labor costs and import prices would suggest it should be. The matter was so perturbing for policymakers at Carney’s final decision that, even after an in-depth discussion, they pledged to…

NEW YORK (Capital Markets in Africa) – U.S. equity futures rose with stocks on Thursday as China’s plans for tariff cuts on American imports added to optimism the global economy will weather the hit from the coronavirus. Treasuries fluctuated. Contracts on the main American equity benchmarks all pointed to the fourth day of gains after China said it will lower levies on $75 billion of U.S. goods next week, likely satisfying part of the interim…

ACCRA (Capital Markets in Africa)- Ghana sold sub-Saharan Africa’s longest-ever Eurobond as part of a $3 billion deal that was almost five times oversubscribed. West Africa’s second-biggest economy issued a $750 million tranche, which amortizes and has an average life of 40 years, at 8.875%, making it the highest-yielding sovereign dollar bond so far this year. Pricing was reduced from the initial talk of 9.4%. Ghanaian Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta discusses the Eurobond. He speaks…

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – South African government bonds are finding favour with foreign investors, extending a rally even as concerns over the effect of the coronavirus continue to roil global markets. Non-residents bought the most of the debt on a net basis in 16 months on Tuesday, and the order book at Treasury’s weekly auction was the strongest in five weeks. Inflows this year stand at 7 billion rand ($470 million), according to JSE Ltd. data,…

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Oil sellers are looking for alternative buyers in Asia for prompt cargoes as Chinese demand dries up because of the coronavirus and some customers ask to defer purchases. The suppliers — including oil majors and trading houses — are offering grades including Russia’s ESPO, Basrah Light from Iraq and Brazilian Lula for delivery in just a few weeks’ time, according to traders in Asia with knowledge of the matter….

NEW YORK (Capital Markets in Africa) – The year’s first fallen unicorn is about to test public markets’ appetite for unprofitable start-ups, and so far it’s not looking like a positive bellwether for the class of 2020.  Mattress retailer Casper Sleep Inc. is planning to cut the target price range for its Wednesday initial public offering, people familiar with the matter said, shrinking its potential market value to well below the $1.1 billion valuations it…