Moody’s Sees More African Countries Seeking IMF, World Bank Help

Moody’s Sees More African Countries Seeking IMF, World Bank Help

LAGOS, Nigeria, Capital Markets in Africa: More countries in sub-Saharan Africa are likely to turn to international lenders for emergency financing, according to Moody’s Investors Service. Ghana, Angola and Mozambique have turned to the International Monetary Fund for help in the past year and Zambia may soon follow suit. Kenya took on a $1.5 billion standby facility and Nigeria, Africa’s biggest economy, is negotiating a loan from the World Bank. Zimbabwe is also engaging with the Washington-based lenders to obtain…

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Kenya to Switch KenGen Debt in Region’s Biggest Rights Offer

Kenya to Switch KenGen Debt in Region’s Biggest Rights Offer

NAIROBI, Kenya, Capital Markets in Africa: The Kenyan government will convert 20.2 billion shillings ($200.4 million) of debt owed by the East African nation’s biggest electricity producer into equity as part of a rights offer that’s the largest in the region. The Kenya Electricity Generating Co. Ltd., known as KenGen, is asking investors for 28.8 billion shillings to help finance 720 megawatts of new production capacity over the next four years. Other shareholders apart from the…

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Africa’s Busiest Oil Industry Is Running Hard to Stand Still

Africa’s Busiest Oil Industry Is Running Hard to Stand Still

Algiers, Algeria, Capital Markets in Africa: Algeria has more drilling rigs than the rest of Africa combined, yet oil production still isn’t recovering after years of decline. It’s little wonder the nation remains one of the most vocal supporters of action to increase prices by curbing output at the OPEC meeting next month. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries has been hit hard by the decline in oil prices. Algeria, like other members, is rolling out economic reforms to deal with…

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Nigeria’s Central Bank Seen Loosening Stranglehold on Currency

Nigeria’s Central Bank Seen Loosening Stranglehold on Currency

LAGOS, Nigeria, Capital Markets in Africa: Nigerian policy makers may be about to loosen their stranglehold on the nation’s currency. The central bank of Africa’s biggest economy will decide Tuesday on whether to adjust borrowing rates as evidence mounts that a recession is looming. Barclays Plc, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Renaissance Capital Ltd. are among banks predicting it will also carry out a de facto devaluation of the naira, or even a gradual removal of capital controls that have…

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South Africa | PIC in Talks to Create Group to Bid for Barclays Africa Stake

South Africa | PIC in Talks to Create Group to Bid for Barclays Africa Stake

Johannesburg, South Africa, Capital Markets in Africa: The Public Investment Corp., Africa’s biggest fund manager, said it’s forming a group of black investors to buy a stake in Barclays Africa Group Ltd. in a bid to ensure the bank comes back under the control of South Africans. “There are discussions with institutional investors managing black money, such as pension funds,” Dan Matjila, head of the Pretoria-based PIC, said by phone on Monday. As yet it’s difficult to say how…

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Nigeria’s Stocks Enter Bull Market Even as Economy Contracts

Nigeria’s Stocks Enter Bull Market Even as Economy Contracts

LAGOS, Nigeria, Capital Markets in Africa: Nigerian stocks entered a bull market as investors bought equities in anticipation of a currency devaluation that would boost share prices, even as data showed Africa’s biggest economy is in danger of a recession. The Nigerian Stock Exchange All Share Index closed at 27,129.41 on Friday, more than 20 percent above a three-year-low in mid-January. The measure fell for the first time in four days on Monday, dropping 0.6 percent to 26,978.6…

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South Africa Prosecutor Plans to Appeal Zuma Graft Case Ruling

South Africa Prosecutor Plans to Appeal Zuma Graft Case Ruling

Johannesburg, South Africa, Capital Markets in Africa: South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority said it will ask for permission to appeal the High Court’s ruling that found that its decision to drop a corruption case against President Jacob Zuma seven years ago was wrong. The request to have the Supreme Court of Appeals review the judgment, which opened the way for 783 charges to be reinstated against Zuma, was because of legal reasons and hadn’t been discussed with Zuma’s…

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