News | - Part 6

Africa builds an appetite for Islamic finance, says IDB unit

GENEVA (Reuters) – Nigeria and Ivory Coast are looking to emulate Senegal’s successful move into the market for Islamic bonds, the head of the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) told Reuters. Despite strong growth in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, Islamic finance has lagged in Africa, home to a quarter of the world’s Muslims, presenting an opportunity for ICD, the private sector arm of the Jeddah-based Islamic Development Bank….

South Africa’s current account deficit narrows as exports pick up

Posted on by The Editorial Team

PRETORIA (Reuters) – The shortfall on South Africa’s current account deficit narrowed more than expected in the final quarter of 2014 as exports rose on reduced strike activity and improved conditions in some export destinations, the central bank said on Tuesday.In its latest quarterly bulletin, the South African Reserve Bank said the more competitive exchange value of the rand during the fourth quarter had also helped ease the deficit.The deficit shrank to 5.1 percent of…

Kenyan shilling flat, focus on possible central bank action

Posted on by The Editorial Team

NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenya’s shilling was treading water at near 3-year lows on Tuesday, with pressure from a globally strong dollar offset by the possibility that the central bank may intervene for the second straight day to support the local currency.The shilling was trading at 92.05/15 against the dollar at 0720 GMT, unchanged from Monday’s close. The central bank sold an undisclosed amount of dollars on Monday when the shilling touched its lowest level since…

South Africa’s Q4 spending growth slows to annualised 0.3 pct

Posted on by The Editorial Team

PRETORIA (Reuters) – Spending in South Africa grew at an annualised 0.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2014 after rising 3.2 percent in the prior quarter, with slowed government spending offsetting accelerated growth in household spending, the central bank said on Tuesday.The Reserve Bank said in its quarterly bulletin that spending by the government increased at an annualised 1.0 percent in the final quarter against 1.4 percent in the third quarter.However, household spending grew…

South Africa mining assets up for sale should go to local companies: minister

Posted on by The Editorial Team

LONDON (Reuters) – Anglo American and other companies looking to sell some of their mining assets in South Africa should sell to national champions, or companies owned by local communities and by their workers, South Africa’s mining minister said on Monday.Anglo American is looking at selling some of its coal assets in South Africa and has been considering options for its Rustenburg platinum mines.â€œAt the moment, for example, Anglo American is looking to dispose of…

South Africa expects to start granting shale licences later this year

Posted on by The Editorial Team

LONDON (Reuters) – South Africa’s mining minister said on Monday he expected to start issuing shale exploration licences later this year.”At the moment we are going through the consultation process (with stakeholders such as communities),” Ngoako Ramatlhodi told Reuters on the sidelines of the Chatham House extractive Industries in Africa conference.”We should finish the consultations by the middle of this year and that will enable us to issue licences.”Earlier in the day, Royal Dutch Shell…

South Africa’s rand softens ahead of current account data

Posted on by The Editorial Team

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa’s rand was slightly softer against the dollar early on Tuesday with scope to weaken further should a central bank report show a wider-than-expected current account deficit.The local unit tends to be hit harder than its peers when investors bail out of emerging markets which offer higher yields but are perceived to carry greater risk.At 0632 GMT the rand traded at 12.4180 to the dollar, down 0.19 percent from where it…

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