Uganda Growth Seen Accelerating to 5.5% on Oil-Industry Spending

Uganda Growth Seen Accelerating to 5.5% on Oil-Industry Spending

KAMPALA (Capital Markets in Africa) – Growth in Uganda may accelerate to 5.5 percent next fiscal year, helped by increased spending on the oil industry, the Finance Ministry said. The growth rate may increase from a projected 5 percent in the current fiscal year and may reach 6 percent in 2018-19, the ministry said in the National Budget Framework Paper e-mailed to reporters on Monday in the capital, Kampala, by the Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group. Amos…

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Mozambique to Miss Coupon Payment on Eurobond, Ministry Says

Mozambique to Miss Coupon Payment on Eurobond, Ministry Says

MAPUTO (Capital Markets in Africa) – Mozambique will miss an interest payment on dollar bonds this week because of its deteriorating fiscal position. The government’s capacity to make debt payments is “extremely limited in 2017, and does not allow the republic room to make the scheduled interest payment on the notes,” the Ministry of Economy and Finance said in an e-mailed statement on Monday. Mozambique is in talks with the International Monetary Fund about resuming…

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Acacia Jumps in London on Talks for $4 Billion Endeavour Merger

Acacia Jumps in London on Talks for $4 Billion Endeavour Merger

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – Acacia Mining Plc jumped in London trading after the gold miner confirmed it is in early-stage talks with rival Africa-focused producer Endeavour Mining Corp. about a possible merger of the two companies which have a combined value of about $4 billion. Acacia, which mines the precious metal in Tanzania, jumped as much as 7.7 percent to the highest since November 21. The stock traded at 435.1 pence a share at…

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Egypt Pound Can Attain ‘Fair Value’ in 6 Months, El-Sisi Says

Egypt Pound Can Attain ‘Fair Value’ in 6 Months, El-Sisi Says

CAIRO (Capital Markets in Africa) – The Egyptian pound can attain its “fair value” in about six months, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said, trying to reassure his anxious nation that a price surge since the abandonment of currency controls is temporary. In a new sign of support for the central bank’s Nov. 3 decision to free the exchange rate, El-Sisi said the currency was weaker than it should be, but should strengthen as reforms take hold. The interview, his…

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Nigeria Central Bank Won’t Devalue Naira, Traders’ Union Says

Nigeria Central Bank Won’t Devalue Naira, Traders’ Union Says

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – The Central Bank of Nigeria has no plans to devalue the naira, the head of a money changers’ body said after meeting policy makers. Officials are “not looking at devaluation” as rising oil prices boost reserves, according to the Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria. The naira was little changed at 315.34 per dollar on Thursday, while Brent crude traded above $56 per barrel. “They assure us that people have…

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Emerging-Market Currencies Climb as Lira Rebounds From Lows

Emerging-Market Currencies Climb as Lira Rebounds From Lows

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Emerging-market currencies rose the most in 10 months as the Turkish lira’s rebounded from record lows on speculation the central bank will take steps to support it. The MSCI Emerging Market Currency Index surged by the strongest pace since March and a similar gauge of stocks is on track to erase losses recorded after Donald Trump’s election in November. The U.S. President-elect news conference on Wednesday failed to support fiscal expansion…

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Kenya to Raise $1.05 Billion of Syndicated Loans to Fund Budget

Kenya to Raise $1.05 Billion of Syndicated Loans to Fund Budget

NAIROBI (Capital Markets in Africa) – Kenya’s government is raising at least $1.05 billion through syndicated loans, including $250 million already secured from lenders led by PTA Bank, Treasury Principal Secretary Kamau Thugge said. PTA, an East African trade-finance bank based in Burundi, has already disbursed $100 million, while a further $150 million will be received “shortly,” Thugge said in a mobile-phone text message Wednesday. “We are also syndicating $800 million to international banks,” he said. Kenya’s…

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