Economic News |

Blackouts, Violence and Now Recession: Nigeria’s Troubles Mount

LAGOS, Capital Markets in Africa: On a site four times the size of Manhattan along the banks of the Niger river, the Ajaokuta steel plant was supposed to symbolize Nigeria’s modernity and prosperity rather than its failure. Russian contractors first started building it in 1979 and estimates on how much has been spent range from $4 billion to $10 billion. The state-owned company that owns the facility calls it “the bedrock of Nigeria’s industrialization.” It’s…

South Africa’s Economic Outlook Disappoints S&P as It Weighs Rating

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Johannesburg, South Africa, Capital Markets in Africa: Economic growth in South Africa “has continued to disappoint,” S&P Global Ratings said, three weeks before the company is due to complete a review that may see the country cut to junk. S&P may lower the nation’s credit rating to non-investment grade when it announces the result of an assessment of South Africa’s BBB- ranking on June 3. Discussions on the decision are still underway, S&P Managing Director for sub-Saharan Africa Konrad…

South Africa | Partnerships Can Avert South Africa Junk Rating, Radebe Says

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Johannesburg, South Africa, Capital Markets in Africa — South Africa’s government is confident that its partnerships with business and labor can help it avert a credit-rating downgrade to junk, according to Jeff Radebe, Minister for Planning, Performance, Monitoring & Evaluation in the Presidency. “We are not envisaging a downgrade because we have put in measures as a government working with our partners in the private sector and labor to ensure that we stay the course,” Rabede told…

S&P sees South Africa’s banks up against growing credit risks

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Johannesburg, South Africa, Capital Markets in Africa — South Africa’s banks will find it tougher to turn a profit as the economy remains feeble for the next few years and credit risks rise, credit ratings agency Standard & Poor’s said on Thursday. Consumers, squeezed by rising interest rates, unemployment of around 25 percent and high debt levels, are a growing headache for lenders in Africa’s most advanced economy which is forecast by the government to…

Zambia Prepares Ground for `Inevitable’ Post-Vote IMF Aid

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LUSAKA, Zambia, Capital Markets in Africa — Zambia, reeling from a copper-price slump and a power shortage, is readying for “inevitable” assistance from the International Monetary Fund that may be finalized in December, Treasury Secretary Fredson Yamba said. A deal will only come after general elections set for Aug. 11 and until then, the government will work on lowering electricity and fuel subsidies that the fund last month estimated could cost the southern African nation $660 million a year, Yamba…

Rwanda’s 10-year Capital Market Master Plan in the offing

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Kigali, Rwanda, Capital Markets in Africa — The Capital Market Authority of Rwanda hosts a strategic planning roundtable designed to initiate the process of developing a ten-year capital market development master plan (CMMP). The three-day off-site meeting brought together international and regional experts as well as high-level Rwandan officials from the public and private sectors. Among the delegates were renowned capital market experts from 14 countries across the globe who were in the roundtable they included:…

OPEC agrees to keep pumping as fears of a global oil glut persist

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Vienna, (Capital Markets in Africa) – Oil group OPEC agreed to stick by its policy of unconstrained output for another six months on Friday, setting aside warnings of a second lurch lower in prices as some members such as Iran look to ramp up exports. Concluding a meeting with no apparent dissent, Saudi Arabian Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi said the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries had rolled over its current output ceiling, renewing support…

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