Nigeria’s Currency Chaos Deepens as Bets on Devaluation Rise

Nigeria’s Currency Chaos Deepens as Bets on Devaluation Rise

LAGOS, Nigeria, Capital Markets in Africa: As investors increasingly bet the bottom will drop out of the naira and the vice president hints at a devaluation, the man who calls the shots – President Muhammadu Buhari, who has resisted letting the currency weaken since coming to power a year ago, likening it to “murder” — has kept quiet. “I won’t believe it until I see presidential ownership of it,” Alan Cameron, an economist at Exotix Partners…

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South African Rand Slumps as Gordhan Breaks Silence on Talk of Arrest, Firing

South African Rand Slumps as Gordhan Breaks Silence on Talk of Arrest, Firing

Johannesburg, South Africa, Capital Markets in Africa: The rand slumped as much as 2 percent against the dollar and bonds fell as concern intensified around the role of South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, who broke his silence over reports that he may be arrested and dismissed. The rand was 1.7 percent lower at 15.8106 by 12:26 p.m. in Johannesburg, the weakest since March 15 on a closing basis and the worst performance among 31 major and developing…

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Desperate for Dollars, Investors Line Up for a Sure-Fire Loser

Desperate for Dollars, Investors Line Up for a Sure-Fire Loser

CAIRO, Egypt, Capital Markets in Africa: The hot trade in Egypt’s stock market is a sure thing — a guaranteed money-loser. Clients have been snapping up shares of Commercial International Bank Egypt on the Cairo market, paying in Egyptian pounds, only to turn around and sell them in London for dollars at a loss of as much as 30 percent, brokers say. Big international companies are so desperate to get dollars that they’re willing to…

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Congo Targets Airtime Touts as Central Bank Props Franc

Congo Targets Airtime Touts as Central Bank Props Franc

Kinshasa, DR. Congo, Capital Markets in Africa: Mobile-phone airtime touts on the streets of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s capital have become the latest target in the government’s attempt to stop the slide of the Congolese franc. The traders who peddle mobile credit to pedestrians in Kinshasa must stop speculating on the exchange rate and sell $1 airtime cards for no more than 1,000 Congolese francs ($1.05), according to a statement issued May 11 by the office…

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Chart of the Week: Top Worst African Currency in 2015 ….

Chart of the Week: Top Worst African Currency in 2015 ….

Lagos, Nigeria, Capital Markets in Africa  — Most African currencies had depreciated against the US dollar this year, with the exception of Gambian Dalasi, CFA Fran and Botswana Pula appreciated by about 0.07 percent each. The top five most worst currencies in 2015 as at 16th of October 2015 were Zambian Kwacha, Ugandan Shilling, Angola Kwanza, Mozambican Metical and Tanzania Shillings. 

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