Nigeria’s central bank holds interest rate at 13 pct

Nigeria’s central bank holds interest rate at 13 pct

Abuja, Nigeria (Capital Markets in Africa):- Nigeria’s central bank held its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 13 percent on Tuesday, stressing the need to preserve foreign exchange reserves that have been depleted in recent months to support a weakening naira. At the last policy meeting before president-elect Muhammadu Buhari takes office in Africa’s largest oil producer on May 29, central bank governor Godwin Emefiele said it was not possible for the regulator to intervene on…

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Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves rise by 1 pct by May 15

Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves rise by 1 pct by May 15

Lagos, Nigeria (Capital Markets in Africa):- Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves rose marginally by 1.05 percent month-on-month to $29.80 billion by May 15 from $29.49 billion a month earlier, data from the central bank showed on Tuesday. The forex reserves of Africa’s biggest economy and top crude exporter have been on the decline since last year when the central bank used the reserves to support the ailing naira currency, which has depreciated by 7.5 percent so…

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Zambia’s kwacha firms over 1 pct to month-high vs dollar

Zambia’s kwacha firms over 1 pct to month-high vs dollar

Lusaka, Zambia (Capital Markets in Africa) – Zambia’s kwacha strengthened over one percent to 7.1500 per dollar at 1029 GMT, its firmest level since April 14, buoyed by the return of global demand for copper. Consumption of refined copper in China in the second half of 2015 is likely to rise, with growing demand in the world’s top consumer likely to support global prices. Zambia is Africa’s second-biggest producer of the industrial metal. Source: Reuters Africa…

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Nigeria MPC Meeting: Economists Say Slow Growth, High Inflation, Naira Value Will Top Agenda

Nigeria MPC Meeting: Economists Say Slow Growth, High Inflation, Naira Value Will Top Agenda

When members of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meet for their 244th meeting in Abuja tomorrow, economic experts believe the key policy considerations will be the current stagnation in the nation’s growth rate, high inflation, naira volatility, precarious state of the nation’s external reserves and anxiety over the policy thrust of the incoming administration. Speaking in separate interviews, the economic experts also explained that although the committee may not want to…

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Kenyan shilling hits new three-year low, more losses seen

Kenyan shilling hits new three-year low, more losses seen

NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenya’s shilling weakened on Monday 11th May, with banks covering short dollar positions and traders said they expected the local currency seen easing even further. At 0802 GMT, commercial banks quoted the shilling at 95.80/90 to the dollar, a new low last seen in November 2011, compared with Friday’s close of 95.40/50. “Banks are covering short positions that they accumulated over the weekend. It’s trading with caution,” Chris Muiga, a senior trader…

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Kenyan shilling softens to new 3-year low, stocks rise

Kenyan shilling softens to new 3-year low, stocks rise

NAIROBI (Reuters) – The Kenyan shilling softened to a three-year low on Thursday due to strong dollar demand by companies seeking to settle their bills at the end of the month, traders said. At close of trade, commercial banks quoted the shilling at 94.60/70 to the dollar, from Wednesday’s close of 94.55/65.The shilling weakened to 94.75/85 in intraday trade, lows last seen in November 2011, before recovering amid concerns the central bank may intervene and…

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Ugandan shilling weaker on central bank liquidity injection

Ugandan shilling weaker on central bank liquidity injection

KAMPALA (Reuters) – The Ugandan shilling eased on Tuesday, undermined by an injection of local currency into the market by the central bank and was seen trading with a bearish bias this week. At 0838 GMT commercial banks quoted the shilling at 3,005/3,015, weaker than Monday’s close of 3,000/3,010.”There was liquidity tightness but the central bank injected shillings which has pushed the unit lower (weaker),” said David Bagambe, trader at Diamond Trust Bank Uganda. The…

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