African Equity Markets

Lafarge Africa Mulls Raising Additional Cash for Expansion

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Lafarge Africa Plc, which is busy with a share sale to cut its debt levels, will consider raising additional funding for an expansion that could boost cement production by 24 percent. Lowering the debt will enable the Lagos-based company to get cheaper funding for the next stage of expansion, Chief Financial Officer Bruno Bayet said in interview Nov. 30. “If you want to expand or construct a cement plant, it is…

Steinhoff Africa Retail Gains Most Since Listing as Profit Beats

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JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – Steinhoff Africa Retail Limited rose the most since its September listing after South Africa’s second-biggest retailer reported debut earnings that beat estimates. The stock climbed as much as 6.6 percent and traded 1.1 percent higher at 25.99 rand as of 10:28 a.m. in Johannesburg, valuing the company at 90 billion rand ($6.5 billion). That brings its gain since listing to 27 percent. With more than 4,800 stores in 12 African countries, the…

Mugabe’s Woes Wipe Out $6 Billion From Zimbabwe’s Skewed Stocks

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HARARE (Capital Markets in Africa) – Investors dumped Zimbabwean stocks every day since the military seized power on optimism that 93-year-old President Robert Mugabe will be forced to step down. The stocks, which are denominated in U.S. dollars and were used to hedge against rising inflation, fell another 10 percent on Tuesday, bringing the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange Industrial Index’s retreat since the army’s takeover on the morning of Nov. 15 to 35 percent. The bourse’s market capitalization has…

Moody’s downgrades IHS Netherlands rating to B2

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LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Moody’s Investors Service, has today downgraded IHS Netherlands Holdco B.V.’s (IHS) corporate family rating (CFR) to B2 from B1. At the same time, IHS probability of default rating was downgraded to B2-PD from B1-PD. The company’s $800 million 9.5 % senior unsecured guaranteed notes due 2021 were downgraded to B1 from Ba3. The outlook on the ratings is stable. The downgrades follow Moody’s downgrade of Nigeria’s sovereign rating to…

South Africa’s Main Stock Index Hits 60,000 for First Time

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JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – South Africa’s benchmark stock index reached the 60,000 points level for the first time as investors responded positively to news that Cyril Ramaphosa has the lead in the African National Congress leadership race and a weakening rand gave support to exporters. The FTSE/JSE Africa All Share Index climbed as much as 0.8 percent to 60,140.33 in Johannesburg, before settling at a record close of 59,975.67, a gain of 0.6 percent. Signs that…

Bets on Ramaphosa Sweeten South African Stocks Rally as Risk Wanes

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JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – Buoyant commodities and a weaker currency have already made South African stocks a tasty treat for investors. Now, some are betting on politics to add to the flavour. Advancing raw-material prices and the rand’s plunge to the lowest level this year boosted exporters’ shares, sending the benchmark gauge in Johannesburg to a record. Yet, some money managers have remained doubtful on how far the rally could go given President…

UBS Wealth Has Good Things to Say About EM, Not South Africa

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JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – There’s one emerging market country that Michael Bolliger can’t get bullish about at the moment: South Africa. President Jacob Zuma is fighting to stay out of court before the African National Congress votes for a new leader in December. He’s pushing for his ex-wife to succeed him, but most analysts in a Bloomberg survey think the nation’s Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa probably will. It’s more noise for a market that has already paid a price…

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