Economy

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – A brief history of monetary and fiscal policy of the twentieth century would go something like this. Monetary policy before the Great Depression of the 1930s was a much more limited endeavour in comparison to its contemporary scope, and it took a back seat to fiscal policy. Under John M. Keynes’ influence of fiscal policy came to be seen as an economic cure-all, relegating monetary policy to the rear…

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – S&P Global Ratings affirmed Nigeria’s long- and short-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings at ‘B-/B’, with a ‘stable’ outlook on the long-term ratings. It attributed the ratings’ affirmation to expectations of high global oil prices in the 2022-23 period and a rebound in activity across most non-oil sectors, which will partially mitigate balance of payments and fiscal risks. Still, it considered that the economy’s heavy reliance on…

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – With the dust not yet settled on Kenyan elections, political analysts’ plates will be thrown another meaty election with Angolan polls set to take place next week. Polling suggests it is going to be a close race, and we could see the first change in government since Angolan independence — if the ruling MPLA allows for this change, that is. In Egypt, communication from the CBE suggests its change…

ACCRA (Capital Markets in Africa) – Ghana’s inflation rate climbed to the highest level in more than 18 years in April, underscoring the dilemma the central bank faces in trying to balance its efforts to stop intolerable price growth persisting and boosting the economy.  Annual inflation quickened to 23.6%, the highest since January 2004, from 19.4% in March, Government Statistician Samuel Kobina Annim told reporters Wednesday in Accra, the capital. The median estimate of five economists in…

ACCRA (Capital Markets in Africa) – Ghana’s economic expansion this year will likely fall short of a government forecast as soaring inflation reduces private consumption and investment. The second-biggest West African economy will expand 5% in 2022, according to the median estimate of five economists interviewed by Bloomberg. That compares with the government’s projection of 5.8%, made in November, though it said last week that it will revise that figure. “I expect to see a…