Features

Currencies to Politics Bedevil African Central Banks’ Task

LAGOS, Capital Markets in Africa: Africa’s major economies are taking diverging approaches to monetary policy as they struggle to cope with volatile currencies, slumping growth and political meddling. Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa are set to announce interest-rate decisions this week in an environment marked by accelerating price growth and an economic slump in some countries and attempts by politicians to prescribe policy in others. While Nigeria’s central bank will probably take more aggressive action, South Africa,…

Ghana Said to Meet Investors Ahead of First Domestic Dollar Bond

Posted on by The Editorial Team

ACCRA, Capital Markets in Africa: Ghana is meeting investors as the nation prepares to sell bonds for as much as $100 million in its first issuance of foreign-currency debt to domestic buyers, according to a person familiar with the matter. The country will offer the bonds at a rate of 5 percent to 7 percent, the person said, who asked not to be identified as the information isn’t public. The bond will be issued in the…

Politicians in Africa’s Key Economies Aim at Central Banks

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LAGOS, Capital Markets in Africa: Central banks in Africa’s largest economies are under attack as politicians’ campaign to limit regulators’ jurisdictions and demand changes to policy implementation. In South Africa, senior officials from the ruling African National Congress said the Reserve Bank should help support the rand and that its authority to issue banking licenses must be revoked. President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, East Africa’s most advanced economy, signed a law capping commercial lending rates even as central…

Moody’s Puts 5 South African State Firms on Downgrade Review

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Johannesburg, Capital Markets in Africa: Moody’s Investors Service has placed five South African state-owned companies on review for a downgrade due to concerns about governance and the political environment. The foreign currency long-term issuer ratings of Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd., the Development Bank of Southern Africa, Industrial Development Corp., the South African National Roads Agency Ltd. and the Land and Agricultural Development Bank were all placed on review for downgrade, the rating company said in separate statements Wednesday. Eskom’s rating…

Congo to Appoint Caretaker Government Until Delayed Election

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CONGO, Capital Markets in Africa: Democratic Republic of Congo elections will be delayed until the voter register is updated and a new government will be appointed to run the nation until the vote, a joint delegation of the ruling party and some opposition members said. President Joseph Kabila will remain in power until the vote is held and will in the meantime reorganize the government to include representatives of the opposition, ruling party member and Justice Minister Alexis Thambwe told reporters in…

Guinness Nigeria to Export Beer to South Africa to Add Sales

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LAGOS, Nigeria, Capital Markets in Africa: Guinness Nigeria Plc plans to increase exports to improve sales and generate more foreign exchange as the country’s second-largest brewer battles to overcome an economic slump in its home market. The unit of London-based Diageo Plc will consider selling Guinness stout and the herbal drink Orijin in South Africa to boost the proportion of beverages it sends to international markets, Chief Executive Officer Peter Ndegwa, 48, said in a Sept. 9 interview at the company’s…

Heineken Looks to Premium Brands in South African SAB Battle

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Johannesburg, Capital Markets in Africa: Heineken NV’s recent introduction of Sol Mexican lager to South Africa forms part of a plan to boost its market share in a country dominated by soon-to-be-acquired SABMiller Plc. The Dutch brewer brought Sol to South Africa this month and plans to add more premium brands there, country head Ruud van den Eijnden said in an interview Tuesday. Growth will also be achieved through established brands such as Heineken, Amstel and Windhoek, he…

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