Ghana’s 2017 Budget: Hope of A New Dawn, Or Illusion?

Ghana’s 2017 Budget: Hope of A New Dawn, Or Illusion?

ACCRA (Capital Markets in Africa) – Ghana’s 2017 budget statement outlined an ambitious first step towards transforming the structure of the economy. The budget, christened: “Sowing the Seeds for Growth and jobs” is grounded within the framework of the Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda II (GSGDA II) and within the context of the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) with the IMF.  The budget targets accelerated and inclusive growth through a modernized agriculture sector, private sector-led…

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World Bank cuts Kenya’s 2017 growth forecast to 5.5 percent

World Bank cuts Kenya’s 2017 growth forecast to 5.5 percent

NAIROBI (Capital Markets in Africa) – The World Bank cut Kenya’s economic growth forecast for this year by half a percentage point on Wednesday to 5.5 percent, citing drought, sluggish private sector credit growth and rising prices of oil. The country is estimated to have expanded by 5.9 percent last year, the highest annual expansion in half a decade. But the outlook has been hit by months of dry weather, that left 2.7 million people in…

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February’s Inflation Trends Across the African Continent

February’s Inflation Trends Across the African Continent

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Angola’s consumer inflation edged down to 39.45% year-on-year in February from 40.39% in January, data from the statistics office showed. On a monthly basis, consumer prices increased 2.59% compared to 2.25% in January. Botswana’s consumer inflation quickened to 3.4% year-on-year in February from 3.1% in January. Prices rose 0.2% month-on-month compared to 0.4% previously, Statistics Botswana stated. Burundi’s year-on-year inflation rate climbed to 20.7% year-on-year in February from 12.9% in…

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Tanzania’s economic growth slowed by policy uncertainty, credit squeeze

Tanzania’s economic growth slowed by policy uncertainty, credit squeeze

DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) – Uncertainty over government policies and a slowdown in the private sector cut Tanzania’s gross domestic product growth to an estimated 6.9 percent in 2016 from 7.2 percent the previous year, the World Bank said on Tuesday. Growth is still supported by substantial government investment in infrastructure, including a standard gauge railway, new roads and expanding the ports.  But investors have been unnerved by unpredictable policies from the government of President…

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Fitch Affirms Morocco at ‘BBB-‘; Outlook Stable

Fitch Affirms Morocco at ‘BBB-‘; Outlook Stable

RABAT (Capital Markets in Africa) – Fitch Ratings-Hong Kong-07 April 2017: Fitch Ratings has affirmed Morocco’s Long-Term Foreign- and Local-Currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) at ‘BBB-‘ with a Stable Outlook. The issue ratings on Morocco’s senior unsecured foreign and local currency bonds have also been affirmed at ‘BBB-‘. The Country Ceiling has been affirmed at ‘BBB’ and the Short-Term Foreign- and Local-Currency IDRs at ‘F3’.  KEY RATING DRIVERS  Morocco’s ratings are driven by its economic…

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Fitch may be next to slap South Africa with “junk” rating

Fitch may be next to slap South Africa with “junk” rating

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – Ratings agency Fitch is likely to follow rival S&P and cut South Africa’s sovereign credit rating to below investment-grade, analysts said, an outcome that would underscore worries about political uncertainty and prompt a further selloff in assets. S&P Global Ratings cut South Africa’s foreign currency debt to speculative grade or “junk” status in an unscheduled review on Monday, citing political tensions that led to the sacking of respected finance…

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IMF says Nigeria economy needs urgent reform, no FX curbs

IMF says Nigeria economy needs urgent reform, no FX curbs

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned Nigeria its economy needs urgent reform in a report published on Wednesday that highlighted the risks to growth for the recession-hit country and the dangers of a volatile foreign exchange market. The document, a report from IMF staff which Reuters saw an earlier version of last month, outlines a raft of failings in Nigeria’s handling of Africa’s largest economy and could affect talks over…

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