West Africa | - Part 13

Nigerian Equities Pare Gains on Bearish Sentiment on Large Cap Stocks …NSE ASI down 5bps

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) -The equities market halted two consecutive days of gains on account of negative sentiment towards bellwether Banking and Consumer Goods counters – ZENITH (-3.5%), NIGERIAN BREWERIES (-1.4%) and 7UP (-5.0%). The Benchmark index settled at 26,217.54 points, down a marginal 5bps while market capitalization declined N4.8bn to close at N9.0tn. Accordingly, YTD return remained at -2.4%. However, market activity was mixed as volume traded dropped 17.9% to 187.7m units and value traded surged 304.3% to N10.4bn…

Nigerian Central Bank Leaves Key Lending Rate Unchanged at 14%

Posted on by The Editorial Team

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Nigeria left its policy rate unchanged for a third consecutive meeting to support growth in an economy at its weakest in more than two decades and in which inflation is accelerating. The Monetary Policy Committee held the benchmark interest rate at 14 percent, Governor Godwin Emefiele told reporters from the Abuja-based Central Bank of Nigeria on Tuesday. That was in line with the forecast of all 16 economists in a Bloomberg survey. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari proposed…

Nigeria to Check Capital of Underwriters as Recession Weighs

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LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Nigeria’s insurance regulator plans to audit the capital position of underwriters to ensure their ability to pay out claims as the country struggles to recover from a recession. The verification, scheduled for the first quarter, aims to protect “policyholders and beneficiaries of insurance contracts against unexpected losses,’’ the Abuja-based National Insurance Commission said in an e-mailed statement Monday. Nigeria’s economic downturn and conditions specific to the industry “have created the need for…

Nigeria Stock Market Consumer Goods Index Marginally Drives Index Higher, NSE ASI up 3bps

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LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – The Nigerian bourse opened the week slightly positive as bargain hunting in the Brewers drove the index to a close of 26,231.37 points, up 3bps. Although sustained sell-down pressure on NESTLE (-3.4%) remained a drag, renewed investor interest in NIGERIAN BREWERIES (+1.7%), GUINNESS(+2.2%) and OANDO (+3.9%) buoyed market performance as market capitalization added N2.7bn to close at N9.0tn. Similarly, activity level strengthened as volume and value traded improved 12.5% and 27.5% to 228.6m units and…

Ghana Leaves Key Rate Steady as Policy Makers Seek Stable Cedi

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ACCRA (Capital Markets in Africa) – Ghana’s central bank unexpectedly kept its benchmark rate unchanged as it balanced the risks to inflation and economic growth. The Bank of Ghana’s Monetary Policy Committee left the rate at 25.5 percent, Governor Abdul Nashiru Issahaku told reporters Monday in the capital, Accra. Only two of six economists in a Bloomberg survey said the central bank would keep borrowing costs unchanged, while the remaining four predicted a rate cut of 50 to…

Gambia’s Ex-leader Made Off With Millions, Luxury Cars

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Banjul (Capital Markets in Africa) — Exiled Gambian ruler Yahya Jammeh stole millions of dollars in his final weeks in power, plundering the state coffers and shipping out luxury vehicles by cargo plane, a special adviser to the new president said Sunday. Meanwhile, a regional military force rolled in, greeted by cheers, to secure this tiny West African nation so that democratically elected President Adama Barrow could return home. He remained in neighboring Senegal, where he took…

MTN May Put Off Nigeria Listing Until 2018 as Barriers Persist

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LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – MTN Group Ltd. may put off plans to list its Nigerian operation until 2018 as Africa’s largest wireless carrier works to resolve a regulatory dispute and awaits an economic recovery in the continent’s most populous country. “It’s a work in progress and hopefully within the 12 to 18 month period we will be able to do it,’’ MTN Chairman and Acting Chief Executive OfficerPhuthuma Nhleko said at the annual meeting of…

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