FX | - Part 3

South Africa’s rand slips as Fed remarks boost dollar

Johannesburg (Capital Markets in Africa):- South Africa’s rand weakened on Monday along with fellow emerging markets’ (EM) currencies as the dollar rallied after the Federal Reserve signalled a rate hike by year-end. By 0700 GMT the rand slipped 0.32 percent to 11.9310 versus the dollar, which marched to a month-high after positive CPI data and strong indications by U.S. Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen that the bank would raise rates in 2015. The news lifted…

Nigeria’s central bank holds interest rate at 13 pct

Posted on by The Editorial Team

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…

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

Posted on by The Editorial Team

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…

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

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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…

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

Posted on by The Editorial Team

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…

South Africa’s rand at three-week high against dollar on EM rally

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JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa’s rand rode the wave of an emerging market rally on Tuesday, extending gains to a new three-week high to a U.S. currency weighed down on expectations the Federal Reserve will delay an interest rate hike to September. By 1506 GMT the rand had firmed 0.5 percent to 11.8500 per dollar, having strengthened to as much as 11.8000 in the session before pulling back as weak Chinese manufacturing data restricted EM…

South Africa’s rand rides on euro gains versus dollar

Posted on by The Editorial Team

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa’s rand steadied versus the dollar after pushing firmer than the 12.00 mark overnight, helped by a stronger euro after the Federal Reserve signalled last week that U.S. rates would rise very gradually. A less aggressive than expected policy tightening cycle by the Fed would boost high-yielding emerging currencies such as the rand, even as South Africa’s own central bank is expected to keep its key repo rate unchanged on Thursday….

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