INTO AFRICA February 2018 Edition: The Year 2018 -Africa Economy Normalization.

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Happy New Year! A new year, a new edition and a wealth of new insights – tailormade for you. The Capital Markets in Africa would like to proudly introduce the February 2018 edition of the INTO AFRICA – the publication with fresh insight into Africa’s emerging markets.

The edition provides insight and foresight into African economies (from Southern Africa to North Africa and East Africa to West Africa as well as Mid Africa regions). Overall, economists and analysts are optimistic about African economic growth and are of the view that the economy is recovering and normalizing from the ‘new normal’ conundrum, hence the edition titled: The Year 2018: Africa Economy Normalization.

As the global economy begins to advance on surer footing, Africa’s economies face an important test. Some will be buoyed by the creeping rise in commodity prices. But this could be partially offset by rising interest rates in Western economies. The World Bank projected economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa is estimated to have rebounded to 2.4 percent in 2017, after slowing sharply to 1.3 percent in 2016. The rise reflects a modest recovery in Angola, Nigeria, and South Africa—supported by an improvement in commodity prices, favourable global financing conditions, and slowing inflation that helped to lift household demand. But, growth was slightly weaker than expected, as the region is still experiencing negative per capita income growth, weak investment, and a decline in productivity growth.

For the year 2018, World Bank estimates growth in the region is projected to continue to rise to 3.2 percent in 2018 and to 3.5 in 2019, on the back of firming commodity prices and gradually strengthening domestic demand. However, growth will remain below pre-crisis averages, partly reflecting a struggle in larger economies to boost private investment.

RODDY BARCLAY (Head of Intelligence and Analysis, Africa Practice) opens the edition with a stimulating write-up titled “The African Year in 2018: Indicators to Look for”, where he examines African political, economic and business climatic conditions.

PLEASE CLICK TO DOWNLOAD – INTO AFRICA PUBLICATION: FEBRUARY 2018 EDITION.