South Africa Stocks Regulator May Seek Foreign Help in Gupta Probe

South Africa Stocks Regulator May Seek Foreign Help in Gupta Probe

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – South Africa’s stock-market regulator said it has started a formal investigation into trades in Oakbay Resources and Energy Limited, a company controlled by the politically connected Gupta family, and may seek assistance from international supervisory bodies. A preliminary probe into the November 2014 dealings has been completed, and if needed, the Financial Services Board will contact counterparts in other countries, the Pretoria-based authority said in an emailed response to questions…

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Kenya Requests Extension on Repayment of $750 Million Loan

Kenya Requests Extension on Repayment of $750 Million Loan

NAIROBI (Capital Markets in Africa) – Kenya has repaid 10 percent of a $750 million two-year syndicated loan that was due in October and asked creditors to give the government until April to pay the rest, Treasury Secretary Henry Rotich said. East Africa’s biggest economy secured the loan from Citigroup Inc., Standard Bank Limited and Standard Chartered Plc in October 2015. It intended to return the cash using the proceeds of a Eurobond that’s yet to be sold, Rotich told reporters Tuesday…

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Ghana Misses $816 Million Bond Target After Extended Bidding

Ghana Misses $816 Million Bond Target After Extended Bidding

ACCRA (Capital Markets in Africa) – Ghana missed its target to sell 3.6 billion cedis ($816 million) of non-sovereign bonds to settle the debt of energy utilities as demand for the securities fell short even after the offer was extended by a week. The West African nation placed 2.3 billion cedis of the 10-year bonds at 19.5 percent after receiving 2.8 billion cedis in bids demanding a yield of as much as 20 percent, joint deal…

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Bitcoin Rally Is Eroding Gold’s Appeal, Top Online Vaulter Says

Bitcoin Rally Is Eroding Gold’s Appeal, Top Online Vaulter Says

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) –  Bullion’s rally faltered in the past two months as the dollar strengthened and global equities set new records, while concerns over Brexit and Catalonia’s push for independence failed to drum up notable haven demand. Now, bitcoin’s surge is attracting investor interest toward the cryptocurrency and away from the metal, the biggest online vaulting service said. According to Google Trends, global searches for “buy bitcoin” have overtaken “buy gold” after previously exceeding searches…

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Praet’s Cautious Approach to ECB Bond Buying Attracts Doubts

Praet’s Cautious Approach to ECB Bond Buying Attracts Doubts

LONDON (Capital Markets in Africa) – The European Central Bank’s ultra-cautious approach to removing stimulus triggered varying reactions, including a defense by chief economist Peter Praet and criticism from one of his former colleagues. Addressing a workshop in Frankfurt on Monday, Praet argued that the Governing Council’s decision to keep quantitative easing open-ended was appropriate as inflation in the 19-nation euro region remains subdued. For Francesco Papadia, a former director general for market operations at the ECB, officials had…

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Oil Majors, Traders and Banks Team Up on Blockchain Platform

Oil Majors, Traders and Banks Team Up on Blockchain Platform

LAGOS (CAPITAL Markets in Africa) – A group headed by some of the world’s biggest oil producers, trading houses and trade finance banks will develop a blockchain-based digital platform to manage physical commodity transactions. The group’s members, including producers BP Plc, Royal Dutch Shell Plc andStatoil ASA; trading houses Gunvor Group Ltd., Mercuria Energy Group Ltd. and Koch Supply & Trading; and banks ABN Amro Group NV, Societe Generale SA andING Groep NV, will form an independent venture to develop and operate the platform,…

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South Africa’s Main Stock Index Hits 60,000 for First Time

South Africa’s Main Stock Index Hits 60,000 for First Time

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – South Africa’s benchmark stock index reached the 60,000 points level for the first time as investors responded positively to news that Cyril Ramaphosa has the lead in the African National Congress leadership race and a weakening rand gave support to exporters. The FTSE/JSE Africa All Share Index climbed as much as 0.8 percent to 60,140.33 in Johannesburg, before settling at a record close of 59,975.67, a gain of 0.6 percent. Signs that…

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