Banking Sector |

Ghana Takes Back Control of Bank After `Questionable’ Deals

ACCRA (Capital Markets in Africa) – Ghana took back control of Agricultural Development Bank Ltd. after the regulator annulled deals for more than half of the lender’s shares following its initial public offering in 2016. The West African nation’s central bank regulator cancelled the holdings of Belstar Capital Ltd., Starmount Development Co., Ecobank Capital Ltd. and SIC Financial Services Ltd., which together held 52 percent in the lender known as ADB, Bank of Ghana said in a statement on Monday….

KCB, Equity Bank Seen as Biggest Winners If Kenyan Rate Caps Go

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NAIROBI (Capital Markets in Africa) – KCB Group Ltd. and Equity Group Holdings Ltd., Kenya’s largest lenders, will be the biggest beneficiaries from the scrapping of laws limiting the amount of interest banks can charge, according to Exotix Capital Ltd. analyst Faith Mwangi. Treasury Secretary Henry Rotich has started steps to revoke legislation that the International Monetary Fund has said is damaging the economy and banks have blamed for stalling loan growth. The government is racing to meet an…

Algeria’s banking sector is adequately capitalised and profitable

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ALGIERS (Capital Markets in Africa) – The International Monetary Fund indicated that Algeria’s banking sector is adequately capitalised and profitable. It noted that the capital adequacy ratio of banks operating in Algeria increased from 18.9% at the end of 2016 to 19.6% at end-2017, while their Tier-One capital ratio declined from 16.3% at end-2016 to 15.2% at end-2017 as a result of higher credit growth. It also pointed out that the banks’ return on assets was at 2% and their return…

Angolan Banking sector resilient to macroeconomic shocks

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LUANDA (Capital Markets in Africa) – The International Monetary Fund considered that the heavy reliance of Angolan banks on the oil sector constitutes a key risk, mainly for state-owned banks, while private banks are better positioned to weather the impact of an oil shock given their initial strong position. It indicated that the main channel of transmission of an oil shock is through fiscal activity, as lower oil prices would contain public spending and weaken non-hydrocarbon sector activity and,…

StanChart Chairman Says Bank Acts `Decisively’ on Misconduct

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JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – Standard Chartered Plc Chairman Jose Vinals defended the bank’s culture, insisting the emerging markets-focused lender has acted swiftly and “decisively” to root out misconduct. His comments, in an interview in Lagos, Nigeria, come after a number of top executives in charge of policing behaviour at the bank were themselves disciplined or investigated for allegations of harassment or inappropriate conduct, people familiar with the matter said earlier this month. Vinals said any instances…

Kenyan Treasury Bats for Banks as Rate-Cap Battle Looms

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NAIROBI (Capital Markets in Africa) – Kenyan lenders have strong allies in a bid to overturn interest-rate caps that have eaten into earnings. But support from the central bank and Treasury might not be enough to restore the stellar profits they once enjoyed. Treasury Secretary Henry Rotich surprised lawmakers last week by saying he plans to repeal legislation limiting borrowing costs, backing calls by central bank Governor Patrick Njoroge who has complained the rule complicates monetary policy by making credit demand hard…

Ghana President Tells Lenders to Reduce Their Interest Rates

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ACCRA (Capital Markets in Africa) – Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo said the country’s banks should cut their lending rates for clients. Lenders are failing to pass on lower rates from the central bank and are standing in the way of economic progress, Akufo-Addo said Wednesday in an emailed copy of a speech he delivered at the Ghanaian unit of Ecobank Transnational Inc. in Accra, the capital. While the Bank of Ghana has reduced its key rate by 550…

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