Old Mutual Full-Year Profit Slides as South Africa Economy Slows

Old Mutual Full-Year Profit Slides as South Africa Economy Slows

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – Old Mutual Plc, the U.K.-based insurance company, said full-year profit dropped 7.2 percent after the pound weakened after Britain’s decision to leave the European Union and its South African operations contended with the slowest economic growth since the 2009 recession. Net income declined to 570 million pounds ($693 million) in the 12 months through December from 614 million pounds a year earlier, the London-based company said in a statement on Thursday….

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Nigeria stocks at 1-month high, reserves exceed $30 bln after Buhari return from UK medical leave

Nigeria stocks at 1-month high, reserves exceed $30 bln after Buhari return from UK medical leave

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Nigerian equities hit a one-month high shortly after the stock market opened for trade on Friday following President Muhammadu Buhari’s return home from an extended medical leave in Britain. Stocks rose 1.29 percent at 0936 GMT to levels last seen in February, according to Thomson Reuters data. Stocks, which are down 6.3 percent on the year to date, had climbed to a one-week high in its previous session on Thursday….

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Egypt’s pound shows Nigeria must overcome its fear of floating free

Egypt’s pound shows Nigeria must overcome its fear of floating free

CAIRO (Capital Markets in Africa) – A currency devaluation may do little to fix Nigeria’s problems unless it follows the examples of emerging market peers Egypt, Argentina and Russia and embraces floating exchange rates. Grappling with the recession, widespread dollar shortages, a budget funding gap and international lenders’ reluctance to provide loans, Nigeria has moved tentatively to devalue its currency. The naira traded as low as 375 per dollar on Monday versus the official rate of…

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Renewed Sell Pressure on NB Drags Nigerian Bourse… NSE ASI down 30bps

Renewed Sell Pressure on NB Drags Nigerian Bourse… NSE ASI down 30bps

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – The All Share Index was unable to sustain yesterday’s positive performance as it fell 30bps to close at 25,055.29 points following renewed sell pressure on NIGERIAN BREWERIES (-3.8%). Consequently, YTD loss worsened to -6.8%, while market capitalisation declined by N25.9bn to settle at N8.7tn. Market activity also softened as volume and value traded dipped 10.8% and 14.6% to 144.4m units and N1.5bn respectively. Bears Retain Grip on FMCGs Despite the decline…

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Egyptian Equity closes in the North Pole, EGX30 1.64% up

Egyptian Equity closes in the North Pole, EGX30 1.64% up

CAIRO (Capital Markets in Africa)- The Egyptian Exchange (EGX) ended Thursday’s trading session in a rise, as the benchmark index EGX30 added 1.64% or 203.6 points and closed at the level of 12,651.97 points, after closing five consecutive sessions in red. EGX70 declined by 0.96% to 512 points, and similarly, the broader index EGX100 lost 0.88% to the level of 1,220.19 points. On the other hand, the equal-weighted index EGX50 rose 1.78%, closing at 1,957.58…

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South Africa’s ANC attacks banks over forex rigging charges

South Africa’s ANC attacks banks over forex rigging charges

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – South Africa’s ruling ANC party called on Thursday for the toughest possible sanctions against more than a dozen local and foreign banks accused of rigging the rand currency, piling political pressure on lenders that have become a target for public anger. The Competition Commission said on Wednesday it had found the banks, including U.S., European, Japanese and Australian lenders, had colluded to coordinate their trading activities when dealing in…

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IMF may consider extending Ghana aid deal, says its Ghana country head

IMF may consider extending Ghana aid deal, says its Ghana country head

ACCRA (Capital Markets in Africa) – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) may consider extending its three-year aid deal with Ghana if the new government requests an extension, the Washington-based lender said on Wednesday. The West African country is more than halfway through a $918 million programme signed in April 2015 to restore fiscal balance to an economy dogged by deficits, high public debt and inflation. The government of Nana Akufo-Addo, which took office in January…

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