The Markets

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – However worried investors may be about IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde’s warning on the global economic outlook, there was little sign of it in today’s emerging markets, which were clearly taking their cue from a report that the U.S.-China trade dispute may be closer to ending and a stronger-than-forecast China services PMI. There were few losers in the currency markets, average dollar-bond spreads were a touch narrower and a firmly green…

LONDON (Capital Markets in Africa) – The latest spike to $5,000 is just another blip as cryptocurrencies stumble toward maturity. Bitcoin spiked briefly above $5,000 on Tuesday, a level it hasn’t reached since it crashed spectacularly in November. The surge pulled up other cryptocurrencies, too. But have no fear of missing out: Whatever the explanation, there’s no good reason to turn bullish on crypto. If you go to crypto websites or follow the market’s opinion leaders on Twitter, it’s…

CAIRO (Capital Markets in Africa) Egypt is targeting lower yields on local debt in the new fiscal year, confident that its securities will remain coveted among investors. The goal of 15.5 percent, laid out in the 2019-2020 budget that begins on July 1, compares with the government’s yield target of 18 percent on Treasury bills and bonds in the current fiscal year. Much of the foreign capital that entered Egypt over the past couple of years…

NAIROBI (Capital Markets in Africa) – Safaricom Plc’s market share of Kenyan mobile-phone subscriptions dropped for a sixth consecutive quarter as competition heats up, according to data from the industry regulator. Safaricom, East Africa’s biggest company by valuation and a unit of Vodacom Group Ltd., recorded a market share of 63 percent in 2018, compared with 69 percent during the previous year, according to the Communications Authority. Bharti Airtel Ltd.’s local unit, which agreed to merge operations with Telkom…

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Ernst & Young, auditors for Nigeria’s Oando Plc, said there was material uncertainty about the energy company’s ability to continue as a going concern, even as it reported increased profit in the past financial year. While profit after tax rose 46 percent to 28.8 billion naira ($80 million), “the company recorded comprehensive losses for the year of 18.3 billion naira and, as that date, current liabilities exceeded current assets by…

JOHANNESBURGH (Capital Markets in Africa) – South African benchmark bond yields fell to the lowest in 10 months and the rand extended gains after Moody’s Investors Service chose not to update its investment grade rating on the country’s sovereign debt or the outlook. Yields on rand-denominated securities due December 2026 fell five basis points to 8.55 percent by 8:09 a.m. in Johannesburg, the lowest since May 30. The rand led gains in emerging-market currencies, advancing for a second…